Monarch Brew 8/18: Starting Strong

Monarchs Open Up Year With Win At Mason

Author

Monarch Brew Crew
August 18, 2023

Happy Friday, y’all. You know those days that start with a strong cup of coffee and then someone brings by your favorite donut?

Those days seem to go by quicker and you get more done because of the strong start, right?

Well someone apparently someone brought by an awesome donut because that’s exactly what our women’s soccer team got our 2023-24 calendar off to a great start last night.

What else can we stir into today’s edition of the Brew? Check it out!

⚽️ Let’s How You Get It Started
⚽️ Preseason Praise
👏 A True Legend
👑 And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Get This Party Started. Nothing like a dominating win over an in-state rival to get the party going, right?

The Monarchs outshot the Patriots, 22-4 and controlled possession for nearly the entirety of the game.

Preseason Sun Belt selection Ece Turkoglu found the back of the net in the 17th minute and just over 60 seconds later, Anna Tørsløv scored her second collegiate goal to give ODU a 2-0 lead at the break. The Monarch midfield and defense would hold strong, stifling any possible Mason counterattack en route to the season-opening win.

🔼 Coveting Conway. In just two seasons in Norfolk, Myah Conway has left quite an impression on the young ODU volleyball program.

Entering her third year, expectations have been raised and the rest of the league is on notice as she was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team this week.

ThejOrwigsburg, Pennsylvania native became the first player in program history to be named to an All-Conference First Team after leading ODU with 368 kills (3.50 per set) and 430 points (4.10 per set) last season. She was also third on the team with 76 total blocks (eight solo) and was fourth in both digs (163) and service aces (20).

Conway recorded four double-doubles during the 2022 season, scored double-digit kills 19 times, and landed on All-Tournament Teams at the Virginia Tech Invitational and ODU's Quest for the Crown.

🔼 A True Legend. An institution of the ODU athletic program will enter his final season this fall as Alan Dawson announced he will retire from his position at the completion of the upcoming 2023 season.

In his 27 seasons, Dawson piled up 257 wins, six conference championships, 11 MLS Draft picks and countless successful student-athletes both on the pitch and in the classroom.

Athletic Director Dr. Wood Selig said, "Coach Dawson's Monarch teams have been among the nation's elite men's programs and a fixture in the NCAA tournament throughout his career at ODU. His tenure will rank among the best of any ODU head coach who has ever led a Monarch program and there have been many great ones. He leaves behind a rich legacy of academic and athletic success from which we will continue to build and grow."

Current Associate Head Coach Tennant McVea will take over the role as head coach from Dawson.

🏈 GET IN THE GAME

A limited number of premium seats are available in our Cox Business Loge Lounge for the 2023 football season!

Purchase Premium Seats for this year as we host Wake Forest, Appalachian State, and Coastal Carolina and lock in first right of refusal for the 2024 season when we host Virginia Tech, JMU, East Carolina, and more!

For more information, email Ashley Vellines at [email protected] or call the ODAF Office at 757-683-6963.

📝 ICYMI

🔼 Salute To Service. There’s no greater honor than to have the opportunity to thank the men and women who serve our country on the front lines.

Coach Jeff Jones is doing just that as he is spending time at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait as part of the 2023 Hardwood Classic, presented by the Troops First Foundation.

Coach Jones is one of four Division I head coaches on site interacting, coaching and spending time with the servicemen and women.

🏈 SCOUTING REPORT: GA SOUTHERN

Opponent #11: Georgia Southern
Date: Saturday, November 18th
Location: Statesboro, Ga.
Time: TBA
Broadcast Coverage: ODU Sports Radio Network

Last Meeting: Georgia Southern 28, Old Dominion 23 - Oct. 22, 2022
All-Time Series: Georgia Southern leads 3-0

Famous Alumni Battle: 

ODU: Nancy Lieberman (Basketball Hall of Famer), Justin Verlander (MLB All-Star), Taylor Heinicke (NFL QB), Jay Harris (ESPN Anchor), Ben Bailey (host of Cash Cab), William Fallon (Four Star Navy Admiral)
Liberty: Jason Elam (former NFL kicker), Sam Ponder (ESPN Host/Reporter), Sid Bream (former MLB first baseman), Seth Curry (NBA Guard, Dallas Mavericks), Shannon Bream (Fox News host), Malik Willis (NFL QB - Titans)

ODU will be looking for revenge after a tough 28-23 home loss to the Eagles last fall.

Former USC head coach Clay Helton enters his second season and once again has pounced on the transfer portal in hopes of completing revamping the Ga Southern offense from a historic running school to a air raid offense.

Two transfer QBs Davis Brin (Tulsa) and Beau Allen (Tarleton State/Kentucky) come to GSU with a lot of talent and will be battling it out in camp. Leading rusher Jalen White is back for his junior season.

Defensively, GSU struggled last year, but Helton brought in a new defensive coordinator along with several new transfers in an attempt to sure up the D to counter the high-octane offensive attack.

🏈 COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 15 DAYS

Keep an eye on #15 this fall.

Wayne Matthews III has been making a name for himself on the special teams unit for the past two seasons and now entering his sophomore campaign, keep an eye on him as his knack for the ball handler continues to shine.

He finished second on the team in special team tackles last fall and tallied 13 tackles overall, while also forcing a fumble in his first full season for the Monarchs.

We can’t wait to see what this season has in store for #15. 

🤔 MONARCH TRIVIA

Upon completion of the 2023 season, ODU men’s soccer head coach Alan Dawson will head to retirement after 27 seasons at the helm of the Monarchs.

With 267 wins at ODU, he ranks first in program history. Overall, Dawson has a 386-198-62 record as a collegiate head coach.

At 386 career wins, where does he rank among active Division I head coaches in total wins?

Got a guess?

Scroll down to the bottom of this email and see if you had the right answer!

🏈 SEE YOU THIS FALL!

Preparing your fall schedules? We’ve got plenty of promotions coming this fall at Ballard Stadium that we promise you don’t want to miss!

📬 STICK WITH US

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🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Fifth.

His 386 wins between his time at ODU and Methodist, rank him fifth among active head coaches heading into this season.

Let’s finish the week strong, Monarchs!