Men's Soccer Upsets No. 11 ODU, 4-1, in CAA Opener

Saturday, September 22

Vidas Field

4:00

Drexel University

4-2-1;1-0

#11 Old Dominion

6-1;0-1

ODU

DREXEL

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's Soccer Upsets No. 11 ODU, 4-1, in CAA Opener

9/22/2012 6:57:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Postgame Interview

Philadelphia – The Drexel men's soccer team knocked off Old Dominion, 4-1, in the first Colonial Athletic Association game of the season at Vidas Field. The Monarchs were ranked 11th in the nation in the NSCAA Coaches Poll and fourth nationally by Soccer America and College Soccer News. Sophomore midfielder Michele Pataia tallied a pair of goal as the Dragons snapped Old Dominion's six-game winning streak and handed the Monarchs their first loss of the season. Drexel is now 4-2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Drexel jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the eighth minute on Pataia's first goal of the match. Senior Brandon Zeller took the corner kick, and fed it towards the net. Old Dominion tried to clear it away, but Pataia one-timed the shot off the rebound into the left corner of the net.

With 11:23 remaining in the first half, the Monarchs fed the ball back to their keeper, Victor Francoz. However, Drexel junior Mark Donohue contested the play. Francoz went down to protect the ball, but it popped out right to Donohue, who deposited it into the open net. The Dragons took the two goal lead to intermission and outsthot ODU, 7-6, in the first 45 minutes.

The Dragons wasted no time expanding their lead in the second half. Just two minutes into the final period, senior defender John Boswell worked the ball through the midfield feeding Pataia, who beat a defender and shot the ball into the right side of the net past the Monarchs' keeper. ODU had a chance to get on the board in the 61st minute. Yannick Smith had a good look at the net, but Drexel's goalkeeper Tim Washam made a sliding save to keep ODU off the board. Washam also came up big in the 70th minute with another diving save.

If there was any doubt about the outcome, Drexel put an end to that thought when Matheus Goncalves set up Fabio Machado giving the Dragons a four-goal cushion. The Monarchs ended Washam's shutout bid when Tim Hopkinson scored late in the game.

Senior goalkeeper Tim Washam made six saves in pickinig up the win. Francoz made seven saves for ODU. Drexel outshot ODU, 19-16, in the match.

The Dragons are off until Wednesday, when they host cross-town rival Penn at 8 p.m. at Vidas Field. The Dragons will look to stay unbeaten on their home field in 2012.