Sept. 21, 2012

Growing up in the city of Nottingham, Tim Hopkinson was going to live out every English schoolboy's dream: play professional soccer for the hometown team.

An accomplished junior player, he was invited to play for Nottingham Forest's developmental group, confident that it would be a matter of time before he improved and was elevated to the major club. When he languished on the side and was eventually released, he had to rethink his future.

Three years later, how has Plan B worked?

"Brilliantly," Hopkinson said this week. "I'm getting a degree, I'm meeting new people, making new friends, playing with a great team. Couldn't ask for more."

Hopkinson is one of the linchpins of an Old Dominion team that's unbeaten and ranked as high as fourth in the nation. He scored both goals as the Monarchs (6-0) won at second-ranked Creighton 2-1 last weekend, matching the highest-ranked team they have ever beaten.

Get the full story on Hopkinson by Dave Fairbank of the Daily Press here.