Old Dominion Monarchs
Overall Rank: #27
Conference Rank: #5 Conference USA
Old Dominion Team Page
After over two decades in the CAA, Old Dominion is making the move to Conference USA. Despite the departure of quality soccer programs like SMU and UCF, the conference is also bringing in New Mexico and Charlotte. The new conference is not the only change Coach Alan Dawson will have to deal with. A handful of four year starters are gone, leaving a massive hole in the leadership department. This may not be a team that will come out of the gates as strong as they did in 2012, but maybe they can finish a little better.
2012 Record: 11-3-3, 5-3-2
2012 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Alan Dawson
Strengths:
Even without forward Yannick Smith and midfielders Chris Harmon and Jordan LeBlanc, this is a Monarchs team that will be able to find the back of the net. Those three combined for 17 goals and 14 assists during their senior seasons. But the best scorer on the team last season is back. Tim Hopkinson will be the focus up top and he should be able to improve on his ten goals and five assists. Ivan Militar started a few games as a sophomore and he can provide a big target in the box. Sophomore Sidney Rivera showed flashes as a freshman and he will be given the chance to contribute more now that playing time is available up top. Gideon Asante will be the man who sets up Hopkinson and the other strikers. The seniors’ experience in the middle of the park can provide a steadying influence while everybody else adjusts to their new roles. And he can do a bit of scoring as well. Ryan Condotta started all 17 games in the midfield as a freshman and Skylar Hagan is a very good defensive midfielder.
Weaknesses:
The Monarchs will face a few more potent offenses in Conference USA, but the back line should be up to the task. Alex DeJohn is the big loss, but Jason Gaylord and Ryan Oakes are back to lead the defense. ODU will need players like sophomore Moussa Diallo to play a larger role after limited action in 2012. The bigger concern is in net where Victor Francoz needs to be replaced. The two year starter will be greatly missed, especially if Coach Dawson cannot find another steady keeper. Senior Sean Stowe is the most experienced option after playing a grand total of seven minutes last season. Junior Connor Miller, at 6-5, takes up a lot of space between the posts. Incoming freshman Matthew Sanchez has international experience for the U-20 Puerto Rico squad.
Final Projection:
Whoever it may be, Old Dominion needs solid play in goal. With games against VCU, Creighton, UCF, Maryland and all of their new conference mates, the defense is going to get seriously tested on a relatively regular basis. This season will seem a bit different for Monarch fans as there are a few familiar faces gone and a whole lot of new opponents. Yet the end result will not be all that different. The Monarchs are not going to cruise through Conference USA like they have in the CAA, but they will end up back in the NCAA Tournament for the tenth time in a dozen years. They can worry about conference titles later.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Tim Hopkinson, Senior, F, 10
Assists: Tim Hopkinson, Senior, F, 5
Shots: Tim Hopkinson, Senior, F, 61
Saves: None
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