Aug. 21, 2008

• Live Stats

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Lady Monarchs head out of town to open the 2008 women's soccer season with a game against High Point University on Friday night. The first game of the season will kick-off at 7:00 pm in North Carolina for both teams season-opening game. ODU boasts nine seniors, including pre-season All-CAA forward Katie Watson, as they take the field for the first time in '08 and will be playing a very young High Point team.

In head coach Joe Pereira's only pre-season exhibition, the Lady Monarchs came away with a 2-1 victory over American University. Senior Janna Pearson and sophomore Ashley Kukura scored goals and senior Lauren Tupman pitched a shutout for over 60 minutes of the game. ODU is returning the league's top two scorers from 2006, Watson and Shavon Knight, who combined for 64 points that season.

Pereira is also excited about the newcomers to the team in '08, providing a wealth of depth the Lady Monarchs have not benefited from before. Six newcomers combined with the experience of solid sophomore and junior classes will give the Lady Monarchs a number of different options this season.

The Panthers of High Point played to a scoreless draw in its exhibition against UNC Pembroke earlier this week. The team was picked to finish second in the Big South this year and returns its leading scorer, sophomore Sara Rager (6 g, 5 a).

The opening game of the season is scheduled to kick-off at 7:00 pm. High Point Athletics will provide live stats through their website, www.highpointpanthers.com.