NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion men's soccer takes on Bucknell on Sunday, September 1 at 1 p.m. at the ODU Soccer Complex. A win would bring the Monarchs to 5-0 for the first time since 2012.
Sunday's match will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available here.
The Monarchs faced the Bison last season on September 7 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but fell 4-2. ODU scored in the second minute through Lewis Rourke, with assists from Jake Lane and Marcelo Randolf. Bucknell then scored four straight goals, capped by an 81st minute goal from Winston Oziri. Rourke scored again with 52 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to two goals.
Old Dominion is 4-0 for the first time since 2012, when the Monarchs started 6-0. ODU beat Radford 7-1 on Wednesday evening in Norfolk. ODU is one of only 16 Division I men's soccer programs with a perfect winning percentage.
The Monarchs have a +12 goal differential, tied for fourth in Division I. They are in a three-way tie for the most goals scored with 17. ODU ranks sixth in points per game (12) and is tied for second in scoring offense at 4.25 goals per game. The team ranks fifth in total points (48), sixth in total assists (14), and is tied for fifth in shots on goal per game, despite being tied for 46th in total shots per game (15.25).
Fourth year forward Jason Purks has scored two game-winning goals, placing him in a 21-man tie for first nationally. The Oakwood, Ohio native has four goals in four games, tied for fifth in total goals. He is also tied for seventh in Division I with an average of one goal per game. Purks has converted both of his penalty kicks for a 100% success rate, tied for first in Division I.
Fourth year forward Lewis Rourke and fourth year defender Ludovico Vicini each have three assists, tied for 12th nationally. Rourke has scored three goals in four games, tied for 20th in total goals.
Second year goalkeeper Alexander Aguilar has two assists, tied for 52nd nationally. The Manassas, Virginia native has logged 360 minutes in net, tied for seventh. Aguilar has one clean sheet, ranking 34th in Division I.
Purks and Rourke each have nine points, in a five-way tie for ninth nationally and first in the Sun Belt. Fifth year defender David Chapman ranks third on the Monarchs with two goals, tied for 66th nationally.
Bucknell is looking for its first win of the 2026 season. The Bison lost 2-1 to #20 Hofstra on August 20, then fell 3-1 at Pittsburgh, and most recently lost 2-0 to Fordham. Bucknell was ranked fourth in the Patriot League Preseason Coaches Poll.
Chayse Snyder and Cade Whitmire each lead the Bison with one goal and two points through three games. Colin Findlay, Noah Handzel, and Viktor Permyashkin each have one assist.
Third year forward Drew Roskos and fourth year defender Jack Lucas were selected to the Preseason All-League Team. Roskos was named Preseason Forward of the Year, and Lucas earned Preseason Defender of the Year.
Thomas Yerbury has made three starts in goal for Bucknell, recording 10 saves with a 59% save percentage.
ODU has two games left in its five-game homestand and will host UMBC on Friday, September 11 at the ODU Soccer Complex.
Source: odusports.com — Read the original article
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