Men's Soccer 8/23/2018 2:00:00 PM

MEN'S SOCCER KICKS OFF 2018 SEASON AT ODU ON FRIDAY

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RADFORD, Va. – The Radford men's soccer team kicks off the 2018 regular season with a 7 p.m. contest at Old Dominion this Friday, Aug. 24.

SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: Old Dominion Monarchs
Location: Norfolk, Va. (ODU Soccer Complex)
Date: Friday, August 24
Time: 7 p.m.
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ABOUT THE MATCH-UP
The Highlanders are still searching for their first ever victory over Old Dominion as they enter Friday's contest with an all-time record against the Monarchs of 0-5-0. The two sides first met in 1985 and have gone head-to-head as recently as 2016 in a game that ended 1-0 in favor of ODU.

PRESEASON SUCCESS
Radford knocked off the rust with three home exhibition matches this preseason, beating VMI and Appalachian State before drawing with ETSU. The Highlanders outscored their opponents 5-1 across the three games, receiving goals from four different goal scorers.

ROSTER MAKEUP
Head Coach Bryheem Hancock and Assistant Coach Brian Cronin have a deep roster with a good mix of veterans and newcomers to work with in 2018. Fifteen players have reached junior or senior status while 18 players will be on the pitch as either freshmen or sophomores.

RETURNERS AND NEWCOMERS
Redshirt senior forward Kieran Roberts will be tasked with leading the team offensively after winning Big South Attacking Player of the Year a season ago and then being named Preseason Co-Attacking Player of the Year earlier this month. Other All-Big South honorees – midfielder Victor Valls and defender Max Edwards – also return. Meanwhile, the Highlanders will be counting on a number of newcomers including Robbie Johnson, Pape Oumar Gueye, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Thure Ilgner, Khori Bennett and more.

2018 EXPECTATIONS
Following a 10-4-4 campaign in 2017 that came to an end in the Big South Semifinals, Radford was picked to finish second in the 2018 Big South Preseason Poll. The Highlanders garnered 69 points, but did not receive any first-place votes. While being picked second is certainly a positive, there is no doubt that Coach Hancock and his squad will be looking to beat those expectations and come home with a conference championship.

SCOUTING THE MONARCHS
Old Dominion has high expectations this year after winning the 2017 Conference USA title and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. At 13-6-2 overall and 6-2 in C-USA play, the Monarchs proved to be one of the top teams in the country, but they're not entirely being treated that way in 2018. The C-USA Preseason Poll slated ODU to finish third and they, also, did not receive any first-place votes. Senior midfielder Niko Klosterhalfen was named to the Preseason All-Conference team, as well as junior goalkeeper Mertcan Akar. After posting 10 shutouts a season ago, Akar has also been named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, an award given to the most outstanding player in the nation at the end of each season.

HOME OPENER
The Highlanders will begin the season with five straight road matches before finally returning to Cupp Stadium. On Sept. 22, Radford will host Campbell at 7 pm. Admission is free for all spectators.

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For more information on the Radford men's soccer team visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordMSoccer on Twitter, 'radfordmsoccer' Instagram or Radford Men's Soccer on Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

#2 Max Edwards: D; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#3 Pape Oumar Gueye: MF; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#7 Kieran Roberts: F; 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior

#5 Victor Valls: MF; 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

#10 Khori Bennett: M; 6' 0"; Senior

#8 Thure Ilgner: D; 6' 5"; Freshman

#4 Gonzalo Rodriguez: MF; 6' 0"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#2 Max Edwards
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: D

#3 Pape Oumar Gueye
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: MF

#7 Kieran Roberts
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#5 Victor Valls
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior
: MF

#10 Khori Bennett
: 6' 0"; Senior
: M

#8 Thure Ilgner
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: D

#4 Gonzalo Rodriguez
: 6' 0"; Senior
: MF