ODU MEN'S SOCCER RANKED 8TH IN NATION
The Old Dominion University men's soccer team has been picked to win the Colonial Athletic Association title in 2004, according to a vote of the league's 10 head coaches.
The Old Dominion University women's soccer team was picked to finish eighth in the Colonial Athletic Association. William and Mary, who won the CAA Championship last season, was picked to finish first.
The Monarchs, who went 15-4-1 last season, return four of their top five scorers and the entire defense from last year's squad. The Monarchs received seven first-place votes and 78 total points to earn the top spot in the poll.
ODU opened last season with a school-record 14 consecutive victories, including 11 by shutout, and achieved the highest national ranking in school history after rising to no. 2 in the national polls for four straight weeks in October.
The Monarchs are ranked no. 8 by College Soccer News in its 2004 preseason Top 30 poll. ODU's top returnee is senior defender Trevor McEachron, who earned first-team All-American and CAA Defender of the Year honors in 2003, and is one of 25 players on the pre-season watch list for the Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top collegiate soccer player in the nation.
Also back for the Monarchs are first-team All-CAA midfielder Kevon Harris, who tallied for goals and five assists a year ago, and second-team All-CAA forward Brian Cvilikas, who tired for the team lead with 10 goals in 2003. VCU, last year's CAA winner, was picked to finish second, receiving two first-place votes and 70 points overall.
The Monarchs will host N.C. State at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, in exhibition action, before opening their regular season at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, versus Campbell.
The Lady Monarchs, who finished 3-9-5 in 2003 after an injury-plagued season, received 25 points to tie with Towson. The Lady Monarchs kick off preseason action at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18, against East Carolina. ODU opens its regular season at home, at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, against UNC-Greensboro.