Old Dominion’s men’s soccer team opened its season at home on Monday, August 24, at 6 p.m. Eastern, facing Elon University on the campus in Norfolk, Virginia. The match marked the first of five straight home contests that will run through mid‑September, a schedule designed to give the Monarchs a strong early foothold.
Key Performances Light Up the Opening Match
The teams had previously split a 0‑0 deadlock on August 25, 2025, a game in which ODU recorded nine shots with only one on target while Elon managed eight attempts and three on goal. In their season‑opening win over the Revolutionaries in Washington, D.C., the Monarchs posted a 3‑1 result, with Lewis Rourke delivering a brace and Jake Lane adding a goal in back‑to‑back seasons.
Rourke’s two goals gave him four points, while Otu Bisong, Barrett Saul and Alexander Aguilar each supplied an assist. Aguilar, making his collegiate debut as starter in goal, kept the ball out of the net for most of the contest, registering one save before conceding a single goal.
Elon answered with a 3‑0 victory over VMI in their own opener, outshooting the opposition 26‑9 and forcing nine shots on target. Martin Kozak, Dominik Renz and Jahmir Flowers found the net, and assists came from Kozak, Flowers, Oscar Tonidandel and Henry Mertsch. Goalkeeper Drew Hartman posted a clean sheet with two saves in 90 minutes.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with real‑time statistics available for fans, and the broadcast will carry the excitement into the next home fixture against Lehigh on September 11 at 7 p.m. in Norfolk. That contest will close the current five‑game home stretch, after which the Monarchs will travel to face UMBC.
Coach and the athletic department view the early home slate as a chance to build momentum, and the performances against Elon suggest that the Monarchs have depth and attacking versatility that could carry them through the remainder of the season.