Nov. 15, 2004

NORFOLK, VA -The Old Dominion men's soccer team received a #12 seed in the NCAA Tournament--the first in program history--Monday, and receive a first round bye.  The Monarchs, 13-5-2 this season, will host the winner of the Coastal Carolina-Duke game Tuesday, November 23 in the second round.  The time of the game will be announced.  Duke hosts the first round game against Coastal Carolina.  The Monarchs are in the same bracket as #5 seed Notre Dame.

"We're very happy with the seeding," Head Coach Alan Dawson said.  "We obviously have the respect of the committee and the country because we play a tough schedule and we win big games."

ODU is one of three CAA teams to make the NCAA Tournament.  Hofstra, the CAA Tournament winner, will play at Seton Hall in the first round, while VCU, the #16 seed, will face the winner of the George Washington-North Carolina game.

The Monarchs are 0-1 all-time against Coastal Carolina, suffering a 4-0 loss in the 2002 Stihl Soccer Classic.  That loss is the last time the Monarchs have not won at home.  ODU currently sports a 26 game home unbeaten streak and a 21 game home winning streak, which ranks #9 all-time in NCAA history.  ODU is also 0-1 all-time against the Duke Blue Devils, losing 2-0 in 1984. 

Notre Dame, the #5 seed, will face the winner of the Ohio State-Memphis game Tuesday night.  The game is in Columbus, OH.  Should ODU advance, the Monarchs will face the winner of that second round game.  ODU is 1-0 against Notre Dame, winning 4-1 in 1993 in Norfolk.  The Monarchs have never faced Ohio State or Memphis.

"I'm in shock we got the #12 seed," Senior Midfielder Kevon Harris said.  "I try to play every game with a lot of passion, so it doesn't matter who we face in the second round.  We'll be ready."

NCAA SOCCER CUP TOP SEEDS
1. Wake Forest
2. Indiana
3. Maryland
4. Virginia
5. Notre Dame
6. UCLA
7. SMU
8. UNC Greensboro
9. UCSB
10.Penn State
11. St. Johns
12. ODU
13. New exico
14. Creighton
15. Boston College
16. VCU