In an Election night matchup against in-state rival James Madison, the Old Dominion men’s soccer team secured a significant victory with a 1-0 outcome, highlighted by a 64th-minute goal from Timothy Ennin. This triumphant performance in the regular season finale not only enhances the Monarchs’ standing in the Royal Rivalry but also guarantees their advancement into the Sun Belt playoffs, concluding the season with a conference record of 3-5-1 and an overall record of 7-7-2.
During the first half, the Monarchs faced a formidable defense from the Dukes, yet they maintained pressure on the opposing backline and goalkeeper. The JMU goalkeeper recorded four saves in the initial 45 minutes, compared to two saves made by ODU, which included a couple of attempts from the eventual goal scorer, Ennin.
Following halftime, the Monarchs continued to assert their presence, leading 7-5 in shots on goal, mirroring the first half where they had an advantage of 8-6. This persistence yielded results when freshman Micah Wayland executed a swift throw-in, directing the ball to the experienced Ennin, who favored himself at the edge of the penalty area.
An error by the Dukes’ defensive line allowed Ennin to maneuver past the defense, forcing the goalkeeper off his line in an attempt to intercept the shot. Ennin skillfully adjusted the ball onto his right foot and flicked it into the net in the 64th minute.
The Hartford, Connecticut native celebrated this pivotal moment with a remarkable handspring followed by a backflip. Ennin later had an additional opportunity to score in the 70th minute, but his attempt narrowly missed the target.
The Monarchs’ defense remained resolute as the Dukes attempted three corner kicks within the final ten minutes, all of which failed to yield any results. With five saves from goalkeeper Michael Statham and a collective team effort characterized by the ability to withstand pressure, the Monarchs successfully achieved a 1-0 victory and secured a postseason berth as the eighth seed.
This performance at the season’s conclusion, with three wins out of the last four matches, demonstrates significant improvement and a turnaround from the previous season, which culminated in a seven-game losing streak.
Both Head Coach Tenant McVea and Ennin had praise for the squad as McVea commented, “I’m super proud of the guys tonight and the way we finished the regular season. They’ve been resilient and worked hard.”
Ennin added on in a similar vein stating, “Things hadn’t been going our way. We’ve had some unlucky results, losing to Marshall and West Virginia by a goal was tough. But we’ve got a hell of a heart to bounce back toward the end of the season. It was just grit and hard work, loving each other and battling all over the field.”
The Monarchs have secured a postseason berth and will travel to Huntington, West Virginia. They’ll first meet Marshall to begin the Sun Belt tournament. Head Coach McVea expresses confidence in their ability to at least engage in a competitive match and to build upon their commendable performance during the regular season. He hopes this trip will provide an opportunity to achieve the desired outcome in their subsequent encounter.
