THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 10, 1994 TAG: 9411100756
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
If today's game against American University in the first round of the Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer tournament at William and Mary is anything like the previous five, Old Dominion is in for a long day.
Since 1991, every game between ODU and American has gone to overtime. The only positive aspect for ODU is that the Monarchs are 3-0-2 over that span, including a 3-2 victory at American this year.
``We would have rather not played them, but you can't control (the seedings),'' said ODU coach Ralph Perez. ``Anytime you're the third or fourth seed, you know you're going to have a tough game.''
The third-seeded Monarchs (9-7-1, 4-3-0 in the CAA) come in to the 2:30 p.m. matchup with American behind nationally ranked William and Mary (11th in the ISAA poll) and James Madison (18th).
Last year, ODU faced American in the semifinals of the CAA tournament. The game was deadlocked at 2-2 after the second sudden death overtime period, and the Monarchs advanced to the title game with a 4-3 shootout edge.
James Madison defeated ODU, 3-0, for the conference title.
``The experience that we got in the title game last year will really be a plus,'' said Perez. ``Our seniors, especially, know what it takes to get to the final.''
If the Monarchs have a weakness going into the tournament, it's in goal. Freshman Michael Rodriguez received a red card in the last game of the regular season and is ineligible to play. That leaves junior Nathan Olansen, who is capable but suffering from rib and hand injuries.
Perez is counting on a core of seniors - Gene Bowman, Jamie Reed, Geof Thompson, and Milo Iniguez - to lead ODU back to the title game and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
``If we're going to win the conference tournament, we're going to have to do something we haven't done all year, and that's win three straight games,'' said Perez. ``William and Mary and JMU will receive bids to the NCAA tournament even if they lose.
``For us, this is our only shot.''
ALL-CAA TEAM: Old Dominion defenseman Byron Mitchell (Cape Henry Collegiate) was named to the All-CAA first team. Also named to the first team were William and Mary midfielders Wade Barrett (First Colonial) and Steve Jolley (Kempsville). ILLUSTRATION: CAA TOURNAMENT
WHERE: Busch Field, the College of William & Mary.
WHEN: Opening round is today, with four games scheduled.
Semifinals on Friday at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Championship is Sunday at
1:30 p.m.
PAIRINGS: Today's games match up No. 2 James Madison (6-0-1,
16-2-1) vs. No. 7 East Carolina (1-5-1, 4-13-1), noon; No. 3 Old
Dominion (4-3-0, 9-7-1) vs. No. 6 American (2-5-0, 8-9-2), 2:30
p.m.; No. 4 Richmond (4-3-0, 12-7-0) vs. No. 5 George Mason (3-4-0,
5-11-2), 5 p.m.; No. 1 William & Mary (6-0-1, 16-2-1) vs. No. 8 UNC
Wilmington (0-6-1, 6-12-2), 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS: A pass to the entire tournament is available for $12.
For the games today and Friday, admission is $5 adults, $3 youth,
and $2 for students of CAA schools. Admission to the championship is
$6 adults, $4 youth, and $2 for students.
by CNB