As the leaves fade from green to orange, the anticipation surrounding the start of the ODAC regular season grows.
The Averett men’s soccer team has started the season, including a 1-0-win vs DII opponents Shaw on the season home opener on the 29th of August.
The newly appointed captain Mario Gutierrez, the senior from Toledo, Spain said, “We are very excited for the ODAC to kick-off. To win games of real importance and do well whilst something is at stake is what makes those wins even sweeter.”
Gavin Blanks, the freshman forward from Gloucester, Virginia, said, “I have never taken part in the ODAC, but my teammates, especially the ones who made the playoffs 2 years ago, are speaking highly of the feeling of winning games in the conference. I can’t wait to get to competing.”
Last year Averett finished 10th in the ODAC, but only 2 points behind EMU who clinched the last play-off spot. The team has no intention of missing out this time out.
Gutierrez said, “It was really bitter to miss out last year. We had our moments, but there were certain games that we let slip away. Which is why we have worked a lot on defending up to this point.”
Blanks said, “We have talked about how disappointing it was to miss out on the playoffs last year. I wasn’t a part of the team at the time, but we are all in agreement that making the playoffs is the goal this year.”
The Cougars have 3 more games before kicking off their ODAC regular season. On Sunday the 14th of September they will travel to play against N.C Wesleyan University at 4pm, before returning home to host Randolph-Macon Wednesday September 17th at 7pm. They will once again be on the road to have their dress rehearsal against Methodist University at 4pm on Saturday September 20th.
The ODAC premiere will be at home on the Daly Field at the Frank R. Campbell Stadium against Hampden Sydney on Saturday September 27th at 7pm. The last time the two teams met in Danville, Virginia was filled with drama which lived up to the hype of the 2023 homecoming.
