Old Dominion is 7-0, ranked #13 nationally, and preparing for its biggest test yet: #4 South Carolina under the lights in Norfolk.

This week, Alessandro “Niño” Maldonado and Jacopo Caprile join Aaron and Mike first to take us inside the locker room, talk about ODU’s wins over UMBC and VCU, and share the journeys that brought them to Old Dominion.

We get into Jacopo’s dangerous long throw, Niño’s time in Croatia and with Colorado Springs, representing Honduras, battling back from injuries, and plenty of locker-room rapid fire.

Then Head Coach Tennant McVea joins the show to break down the VCU win, ODU’s rise in the national rankings and what makes Friday night’s matchup with South Carolina such an intriguing battle.

Also in the episode:

⚽ Why ODU keeps finding ways to win

🎯 How Jacopo’s throw-in has become another attacking weapon

😂 Best dressed, worst music, toughest teammate to defend and more

📈 What national recognition means for the program

🗣️ Tennant McVea’s Phrase of the Day: “Put it in the mixer”

🔍 What South Carolina does well and where ODU can challenge them

🏆 Why opening Sun Belt play with three points matters

Friday night is a big one.

Pack The Den.

🌐 odumonarchists.com

#ODUSoccer #ODU #MonarchNation #CollegeSoccer #SunBelt

Chapters

0:00 In the Lion's Den

0:12 ODU Is 7-0

1:20 Inside the Locker Room

2:30 Breaking Down UMBC

3:40 Finding a Way at VCU

4:40 Jacopo's Long-Throw Weapon

8:00 How Niño Got His Nickname

8:40 Niño's Journey to ODU

10:40 Representing Honduras

11:40 Why Defenders Struggle With Niño

12:40 Jacopo's Journey From Italy

15:20 Why Jacopo Chose ODU

17:30 Growing Up With a Serie A Goalkeeper

19:10 Italian Defending vs. Tennant McVea

20:15 Battling Back From Injuries

23:25 Locker Room Rapid Fire

26:00 Best Trash Talker

27:20 Hardest Monarch to Defend

28:00 Best Finisher

29:45 Who DON'T You Want Beside You on the Bus?

30:40 #13 ODU vs. #4 South Carolina

32:20 What South Carolina Brings

33:00 Pack The Den

35:00 Tennant McVea Joins

36:00 The Growing ODU Soccer Crowd

37:20 Maintaining the Standard

39:00 Eitan, The Suit & ODU Soccer

41:00 Goals Coming From Everywhere

42:40 Surviving VCU

46:00 ODU Climbs to #13

47:40 The Buzz Around ODU Soccer

49:00 "Put It in the Mixer"

50:20 Scouting #4 South Carolina

52:00 Why This Matchup Is So Even

54:00 Comparing South Carolina to Elon

56:20 Sun Belt Play: Three Points Matter

58:00 William & Mary Preview

1:00:00 Pack The Den

ODAF Intro - Ted Alexander: This

episode is brought to you by the

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Old Dominion Athletic Foundation.

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Because of you, we create winners

in the classroom, in athletic

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competition, and in life.

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Become a member today

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Aaron: Monarch Nation, welcome

back to In the Lion's Den.

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We're doing things a little

differently this week.

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Coach is coming in later.

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Normally he comes in first, but we're

starting with a couple of the guys

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that are actually responsible for

this ridiculous start, Alessandro

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Nino Maldonado and Jack Caprile?

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Did I screw it up?

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Jacopo Caprile: The second one.

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. Mike: All right.

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Uh, so 7-0, how does it feel, uh, in

the locker room at this moment from,

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like, beginning of the season to now?

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Like, how much has it

changed, that winning feeling?

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Nino Alessandro: Yeah, I

mean, the guys are hyped.

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I feel like today in training, I mean,

you can see how they're m- like, much

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more motivated than ever and, you know,

especially for this big game on Friday,

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I think we're all very excited and, and

we all can't wait to get that going.

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Jacopo Caprile: Yeah.

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I mean, I completely agree

with what Niño just said.

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And it's also, like,

something that we're, like…

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It's not a lot of pressure.

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It's not, like, bad pressure,

what we're feeling right now.

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It's, like, pressure that let the

standards of the trainings going high.

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I can see from the beginning of the season

to now, literally we change how we train

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in, uh, on the field and also in the gym.

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Like, today in the gym, we had a

really good session, music loud.

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Like, nothing really happened.

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Like, we're still nil-nil.

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Mike: So I know- Hey, so

I, I gotta ask a follow-up.

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The music that's blasting in that

locker room with guys coming from all

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over the world, w- where, what are

we listening to in the locker room?

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Nino Alessandro: Today we actually were

just listening to straight Spanish music.

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We let Jason Perks control the

aux, and he's usually the best one.

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So, it's a little bit

of mix of everything.

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But he, uh, he controls everything,

and he does a pretty good job at it.

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Aaron: It's interesting that you say that.

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That was a question that we asked Micah

and Jason last week on, you know, if

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someone has control, who's got kind

of the, the worst taste in music?

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So we'll ask you guys that later.

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It was not Jason, so it's interesting

that you guys gave him the control there.

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But let's rewind a little bit.

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So since the last time we had,

uh, the fellas and Tennant on the

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show, you guys have had two games.

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The first one was UMBC.

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That night, it felt like another night

where just, like, everything was going in.

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Kind of the attack was

coming from everywhere.

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The goals were piling up.

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How much fun is it when kind

of matches are going like that?

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Nino Alessandro: Well, yeah,

I mean, it's extremely fun.

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I mean, it's something we work

in training a lot, you know,

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everything, perfect those details.

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So, you know, when you see them

working out in the game like that

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and, and the goals are coming from

either set pieces or what we do

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in training, it's nothing but joy.

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So I'll say that.

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Jacopo Caprile: Yeah, from my side was,

uh, we did a good job, I think, in the

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first half, not what we supposed to do,

to be fair, so that's why maybe 'cause

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the, the first half ended up nil-nil.

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Then we went in talked to each

other, nothing really crazy,

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nothing happened in the locker room.

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Just we realized that we weren't

do what we supposed to do.

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And then in second half, we just,

like, put down all the work that we do

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in training, put it all together, and

that's like, that's what is leading

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us right now to the record we're in

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Mike: All right, and then this

past Monday you guys win 2-1 over

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VCU in a, a, a game that it seemed

like VCU almost was controlling

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the pace more than you guys were.

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So to get out of there with a win,

if you're comparing the two, does

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it feel more rewarding to like smash

a team 5-1 or escape with a game

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like against a team like VCU 2-1?

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What feels better?

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Nino Alessandro: I mean, for me,

the way I see it, a win is a win.

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VCU was a very…

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It's, it was a very difficult game.

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Uh, it's just sometimes how football is.

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You don't have to score

five to win the game.

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But the fact that it wasn't an easy

game and, and we didn't have the best

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performance, but good college teams find

a way to win, and that's what we did.

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So, that's why it felt really good to win.

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And, and yeah, it wasn't the five like

it was against UMBC, but you know, the

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win, it's al- it always feels great

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Aaron: So in the VCU game, Jack,

about five minutes into it,

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you launch, a throw-in all the

way into the - penalty area.

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Everybody goes nuts, and

eventually Miguel heads it home.

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First off, when did you discover that you

could launch a ball, like, 80 or 90 yards?

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'Cause it's seems like a fr- a

crazy weapon that you've got there.

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Jacopo Caprile: I appreciated the 80 or

90 yards, but, uh, I find out when I was

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back in Italy, I can't remember the exact

time, of course, but probably I would say,

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what, like five to six years ago, and then

I started to, like, keep doing every time.

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That's something that we use

in Italy, but not that much.

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But as soon as I came here, uh, first

in Florida in my JUCO and now here that

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they really like using it, I'll be…

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Uh, I'm not training the, this kind of

things, but it's always getting better.

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So it might just be, like, continually

doing it that, like, helped me to

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reach, like, further in the pitch.

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And that is something that I believe

we're really good at it, 'cause if

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you can see, we score a lot of goal

out of set pieces like a corner.

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We're using the throw-in

right now like another corner.

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So we double the numbers of corner

for me, like from my point of view.

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So it's really something that

can hurt, uh, the opponents

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Mike: All right, so as a defender,

do you take a little extra pride in

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being able to create a goal without

actually getting an assist for it?

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Jacopo Caprile: We were talking about

that on the bus on the way back to VCU

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with the coaches, to be fair 'cause I

was, uh, telling them that I didn't have

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any points this year for any assist, even

if a lot of goals came out from a throw

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in, 'cause, like, some opponents hit it

or, like, the, there's an extra pass.

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But as I said to them, I

don't really care about stats.

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I'm happy to be, uh, in the place

that I can express myself in the, in,

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like, the better version of myself.

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So I rather have someone else score.

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I rather have someone

else, like, make an assist.

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I would rather, like, save a goal, uh,

definitely than actually score it one.

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Aaron: Well, even though it doesn't

hit the stat box, it's clear.

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Everybody knows those, those goals

don't happen without your input there.

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I mean, Mi- Mike and I are just watching

from the sidelines and we know, we know

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now, so obviously your opponents have

gotta be, you've gotta be on the scouting

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the scout of watching for that happening.

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Jacopo Caprile: Yeah, of course,

it's something that, uh, comes pretty

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obvious to the opponents as well.

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So they might have to have a look at my

throw in, but, like, try to do something

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else to avoid us from scoring goals

out of that, but I will keep doing it.

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I will keep doing 'cause it's been

three to four games now that I was,

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like continuously doing it, and

still people can- cannot defend that.

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I don't know, I don't know what's the…

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Maybe there's something,

like, magic on it.

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I don't know.

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But we're gonna keep doing it until

somebody will find a way to stop us, and

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we're gonna find another way to, to score.

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I'm pretty sure about that.

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Aaron: I love that.

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All right, Nino, gotta

start with the nickname.

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Where does Nino come from?

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Because I don't think that Mike and

I have heard anyone at ODU call you

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Alessandro, except maybe, Coach Tennant

when he was telling us who was coming on.

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Nino Alessandro: Yeah.

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Yeah, so Nino goes way back

for me to my first ever team,

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first ever club I played for.

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Uh, it goes back to a coach.

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His name is Coach Kwan, and,

uh, it was just a one random,

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one random training session.

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I was the smallest on the team and,

and he called me little boy and, and

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it started saying in Spanish, and

he, uh, st- started calling me Nino.

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And I guess it just kept going along

around my career from the, to the

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next team to the other team, and

then it led me all the way to here

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Mike: So Nino, before we started,

we briefly talked about your kind

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of like your high school path.

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Obviously, you played high school soccer

in Woodbridge for a year, but then you

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go off to Croatia, then Colorado Springs.

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So take us through that path that led

you to Old Dominion and the kind of

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things you've learned in that period.

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Nino Alessandro: Yeah.

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So I've been at DC my whole life,

DC United Academy, and I got an

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opportunity to go overseas in Croatia.

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Things didn't work out according to, you

know, some, some conflicts with my past

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club, but I learned a lot in Croatia.

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Um, I took a lot with me.

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After that, I, I got a, a great

opportunity with, uh, Colorado Springs

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Switchbacks, and I got a little

taste of a pro environment, which

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really prepared me for here at ODU.

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So, everything I took from

everywhere I've been, I think it

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leads to, to where I'm at right now.

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And, you know, I, I try to take every

single characteristics, ex- especially

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at, at Switchbacks to what I do here.

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Aaron: So Nino, when I was in the Navy, I

got the chance to go all around the world.

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I learned a lot about different cultures.

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That forced me to learn more about myself.

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So when you went to Croatia at such

a young age, what did you kind of

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learn there that you probably wouldn't

have learned if you had stayed in

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Northern Virginia, all the way through?

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Nino Alessandro: My whole life I've

been guided by my big brother, and,

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um, you know, it was always kind of

a, you know, follow what he does, and,

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you know, the moment I go to Croatia,

it's just an independent life, and,

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you know, I couldn't really go to, uh,

my older brother or my mom or my dad.

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And yeah, just from…

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It was probably the best thing that's

ever happened to me, to learn how to

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be independent at such a young age and

it's really, uh, you know, prepared

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me for college life now, and, and even

on or off the field, like, it's really

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prepared me the best way possible.

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Mike: Nino sorry, my dogs

are barking right now.

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Uh, you got the special opportunity

to represent Honduras at

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CONCACAF for your under-17 team.

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Talk to us about what that, like,

special opportunity meant for you

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to represent your native Honduras.

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Nino Alessandro: Yeah, it was a, it

was a very special opportunity for me.

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My whole life…

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I was born in the United States, but my

whole life, I, uh, my parents are bot-

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born from Honduras, and my whole life, I,

I supported the Honduras national team.

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So I, I celebrated every goal,

so I know how much it meant

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to them to put on that jersey.

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And yeah, it was honestly a great moment

for me from the first time I sang the

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anthem to the first time I, I put on

the jersey to my debut, and, uh, it's

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a moment I'll take for me forever.

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And, you know, I hope I can

represent them in the future again.

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Aaron: So Niño, one thing that stood

out to Mike and I is defenders have

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a hard time with you sometimes.

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You know, during the Elon match, you're

on the receiving end of a penalty, which

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always puts your team in a good situation.

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And then Radford you know, there's a

yellow that's upgraded to a, a red there.

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Tennant just talked about your game and,

and how special it is and why he really

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wanted to bring you to Old Dominion.

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Talk a little bit about the

pressure that you put on defenders

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in one-on-one situations.

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Nino Alessandro: Yeah.

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I mean, I try to just do the

best I can for this team.

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With whatever I do with, like win that red

card for the team or, or if it's that draw

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that penalty so Jason Purce can slot it.

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Whatever it takes, you know, I do my best

to put the team first and at the end of

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the day, if that's doing the dirty work or

whatever it is, then I'll do it for sure.

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Mike: All right, let's learn

a little bit about Jack.

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Obviously the Italian.

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You somehow end up at

Eastern Florida State.

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Take us, how do you go from Verona to

wherever that school is in Florida?

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Jacopo Caprile: That school is in Florida.

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Yeah, it's in Melbourne.

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When I graduate from high school

in, in Italy that you have you

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need five years to do that.

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So I was already like one year behind the

guys from America that needs four years.

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I took a gap year.

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Uh, I went to play fifth division

in Italy, uh, ne- uh, near my city,

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like in my city actually Verona.

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I was already planning to try to build my

academic life and on the same, like, with

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my soccer way-- uh, soccer life together.

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So the thing is, I was

thinking, yeah, of moving here.

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It wasn't something that,

uh, I was believed to do.

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I was just thinking about it.

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And then I started cutting out my

clips, sending to my agency in Italy

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that helped me how to come down here.

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And then was, like, a random night in

November when I first got reached out

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by my former coach at Eastern Florida.

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They send me a WhatsApp message

and say, "Hi, I'm, uh, Bu- uh,

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Adam Butler from Eastern Florida.

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I would like to schedule a call with you."

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And I say, "Yo, love, love that."

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So we schedule a call.

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Uh, good first impression.

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Then we had couple of more.

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I didn't talk only to them.

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I talk to other JUCO 'cause I find

out that JUCO for me was the right

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path to, to start with, 'cause it

was a little bit cheaper as well

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as D1, and also was easier with my

academics standard, uh, at that time

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to get into enroll in class and stuff.

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So it was a hard decision

'cause I left home.

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I left my girlfriend at home.

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I left my brother that

I've been really close to.

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I missed my nephew born, to be fair,

as well, when I was in Florida.

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So it's always, uh, hard, but at some

time, I'm lucky that I have person that

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from the other side push me to keep going.

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My parents will come down pretty soon for

the West Virginia game with my girlfriend

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too, and I can't wait to see my nephew

again when I go back for Christmas break.

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So I ended up in Florida with the

hope of did the right choice, and

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it ended up being the right choice.

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I w- I, I didn't regret any choice that I,

that I took since I came here, from taking

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the choice of commit to the, to that

program, and then when obviously Spence

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and Nafe reached me out to commit to ODU

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Aaron: All right, so you

decide to come to Old Dominion.

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Talk a little bit about that decision and

what led you to ODU, and then once you got

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here in the spring, what immediately felt

different about being in Norfolk at ODU?

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Jacopo Caprile: So, uh, in Florida

at my JUCO, we went to the national.

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We had a good season.

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And that's where Nath and

Josh, uh, see me saw me.

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Uh, so they went out

to watch our national.

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I played, from my point of

view, like average games.

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Didn't like stand out with, uh,

great performances, but maybe it

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was the, the one Spence and Nath

were looking for something else.

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Uh, I got reached out by them like

a week after the national, and the

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plan was always to try to transfer

to a D1 as soon as possible.

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So the decision, the decision

wasn't that difficult, to be fair.

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I talked to Spence in particular a couple

of times, and since the first call I got a

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g- uh, I have a, I had a good impression.

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And yeah, I commit in December,

so it was, uh, like a pretty quick

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one from the first time that Spence

reached me out to when I commit.

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And then, yeah, I joined

here in the spring.

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First things that really stood

me up was the size of the school.

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The facility and all the stuff that get

around the, the pitch were way bigger than

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a junior college, and I really like that.

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So but apart from that, the level as well.

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The level is…

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I'm- I don't think it's way higher, 'cause

a lot of good guys from JUCO, a lot of

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internationals from JUCO are pretty good.

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But yeah, definitely, uh, aver- the

average level, uh, if you look also at the

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depth of a squad it's definitely higher

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Mike: So Tennant noted to

us that your older brother

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plays in Serie A as a goalie.

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Is that right?

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Jacopo Caprile: Yeah, that's true.

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Mike: So growing up, obviously,

you're a defender, he's a goalie.

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Talk to us about those, like, backyard

match-ups between you guys and and

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now wh- while you're in college

trying to get better every day, how

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often do you get to talk to him and

kinda lean on him for ad- advice?

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Jacopo Caprile: Uh, we're

in contact every day.

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Literally every day.

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We call each other, we

message each other every day.

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Ed's definitely the one

that let me, … Sorry.

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Ed's the one that told me to take this

chance to come to America, to try to

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express myself in a better way, to take

the risk, 'cause he took the risk, too.

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He went at 18 years old in England

by himself, and then the COVID came,

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so he was there alone for one and a

half year and he's, he definitely,

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he's definitely the one that really,

like, told me, "Yeah, just go.

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Go and try."

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You know that here you, you will have

always a backup, you will have your

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family here, nobody's gonna judge you.

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So it's literally the one that I look

at when I need to, when I need to take

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decision, especially on the field.

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But I will say also my family, of course.

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My family, my dad play soccer, too.

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Not at a high level, uh,

literally just for fun.

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But yeah, it's, uh, he is, they see a

lot of football for my brother and me,

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so they really understand what, like

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When I'm, when I'm mad, he can tell that

I'm mad and all that kind of stuff, so.

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But for my brother, yeah,

we're in contact every day.

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And Ed's a person that I really rely on

for everything, outside and on the pitch.

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Aaron: So Jack, you're an Italian

center back, so pretty sure that

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defense and defending is in your blood.

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Yeah.

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So the real, the real question

here is who knows defense

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better, you or Coach Tennant?

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And be careful with your answer, 'cause

he's gonna be coming on after the break.

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Jacopo Caprile: To be fair,

I would say I mean, European.

323

No, I think, uh, European style of play,

especially uh, us as Italian and them as

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British, and Tennant more like Northern

Ireland, uh, we defend pretty hard.

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We play a type of game that is

really, like, focused, us as Italian

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first of all not conceding goal.

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'Cause the, the worst can be if

you're not conceding goal, you

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tie, and it's still a point.

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So, I would say it's probably a 50/50.

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Uh, but if I have to say someone,

I would say T, 'cause T is

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way more experienced than me.

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So I would say him

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Mike: All right, so this is

gonna be for both of you.

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So obviously in the last year or so,

both of you have suffered some injuries

335

that set you back a little bit.

336

Uh, talk to us about those

experiences and how it's made

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you a, a better soccer player.

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Nino Alessandro: Yeah.

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Yeah.

340

For me, that injury, uh, last fall

was, uh, was very hard for me, uh,

341

right before preseason especially.

342

It wasn't easy, for sure, especially

how excited I was for the season.

343

But I was in good company with,

uh, my teammate Michael Desselyn,

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and we both pushed each other

through those eight, seven months.

345

And now I look back and before every

training, before every game any time

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there's a little bit of soreness or

something like that, I always look

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back to myself last fall and how

hurt I was every time I saw my team

348

train or, or my team play, and that

really motivates me and pushes me.

349

So, you know, I give thanks for that

for sure, and, and it's definitely why

350

I'm that hungry on the pitch every time.

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Jacopo Caprile: Yeah, it's kind

of the same answer as Nino.

352

When I first came here, after two

weeks, I suffered a really bad a-

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ankle injury that I have to undergo

with a surgery, and it kept me out

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for, like, five month, five months.

355

It was hard, I'm not gonna lie.

356

First d- uh, first, like, weeks as

a D1 player, really excited to show

357

myself that I can, like, give my…

358

that I could stay on this program

and all that kind of stuff, and

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had that injury was really hard.

360

But yeah, I kept going.

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I have to give a lot of

credits to the coaches 'cause

362

they always stay on my side.

363

They always, like, involve me in

training, uh, like, try to bet,

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let's say, bet on the winning

team on the small-sided and stuff.

365

So it really helped me.

366

It keeps my mind out of this bad, like,

the bad stuff that it was, that it may

367

I can, like, face with this injury.

368

And a lot of credit go also to Ashlyn.

369

That really helps me in the

training room to recover as

370

soon as possible from my injury.

371

So but yeah, it was a really tough moment.

372

It was my first really bad injury, so.

373

Mike: So quick follow-up.

374

Odu, recently, both soccer programs put

in a new recovery room for you guys.

375

How has that change been for you guys,

knowing you had the injuries last year,

376

and now you have a place where you can

treat your body before the injuries occur?

377

Nino Alessandro: Yeah, it's obviously

something really cool that, you know, the

378

staff and everybody who, everybody behind

the scenes put together for, for us to

379

get easy access to recover like that.

380

They really done a great job with it

all so, and, you know, it's great.

381

I know I can speak for everybody how

grateful we are that we have that so

382

close to us and have access to that

before every training session and

383

after every training session for sure.

384

Jacopo Caprile: Yeah, completely

agree with what Justin and Nina say.

385

I-- nothing to add on it

386

Aaron: All right.

387

I think now's the time in the

show where we need to have a

388

little bit of fun, loosen up.

389

We're gonna ask you these

rapid-fire questions, so don't

390

think about them too much.

391

We want answers from both of you guys,

whether they're, you have different

392

ones or you answer at the same time.

393

But I'm gonna circle back to earlier in

the conversation where Mike asked y'all

394

about music and whoever's in control.

395

Who's the one guy that you don't want

in control of the music, and why?

396

Nino Alessandro: Well, for me, um, this is

kind of what I've been mostly told, so I'm

397

just gonna keep on going

with the same answer.

398

I'm gonna keep on saying Logan Bellina.

399

I don't know why, but I would

just keep that, that thing going.

400

I don't know about what Jack has to say.

401

Jacopo Caprile: I would love to say

Purksy 'cause last week he said me on

402

this question, but I cannot s- c- but

I can say that 'cause it's too good.

403

It's too good.

404

So yeah, my w- my answer will be

actually Bellina as well, Logan.

405

Sometimes he play cool songs, but

sometimes too old or, like, country music

406

that personally I don't really like.

407

So I would say him

408

Mike: All right.

409

I, I have a feeling Jack is gonna pick

someone specific here, but being from

410

Italy, a country known for its style,

who is the best dressed on the team?

411

Jacopo Caprile: Yeah, I

would definitely say Ludo.

412

From my point of view, I

would definitely say Ludo.

413

Nino Alessandro: For me,

I'm gonna go, uh, Jason.

414

I think he has, uh, good style on his

shoulders and, you know, he definitely

415

has some good items in his closet.

416

Aaron: It's interesting.

417

I think Ludo Ludo got picked last week.

418

Uh, I think, I think it was Mike, I can't

remember, that said he had some good fits.

419

And I think Nino, I think you

might have gotten one too.

420

I can't remember.

421

But, uh, all right.

422

I'm curious if you guys come up with

the same answer, 'cause it was unanimous

423

last week on who's the worst dressed?

424

Jacopo Caprile: Yeah, I've…

425

I, I, I listened to podcast last week, so

I would definitely say the same person.

426

Nino Alessandro: For me I give a lot of

credit for Jake Lane for his creativity.

427

So I'm gonna let him slide on that.

428

Personally, I see Logan a

bunch of times in his khakis.

429

Uh, I, I've only seen him in

a work setting, so I'm gonna

430

have to say Logan again.

431

Jacopo Caprile: But I, I, I will

say Jake for the same reason that,

432

that Micah and Jason told you guys

433

Mike: All right, so at games, me and Aaron

like to s- stand near, uh, the goalie

434

near the entrance so we can hear all of

the trash talk going on during games.

435

Who is the best at it at ODU?

436

Jacopo Caprile: That's a good one.

437

All the attackers.

438

It's a hard one to be fair.

439

I would say I have I would say Diego from

the, the last games from the sideline.

440

He had a really, like, cool stuff to say.

441

So I would say him

442

Nino Alessandro: Personally, I know at

least in training Micah maybe could have

443

a little chip on his shoulder sometimes.

444

So I would say Micah.

445

Mike: And for what it's worth, it, it

can be a tough question because it's

446

all about how you envision the best.

447

Is it someone that pisses you off

very easily, or is it someone who

448

can make you laugh while you're…

449

and gets you kinda unfocused?

450

Nino Alessandro: Uh, I, I

would say a little bit of both.

451

At least sometimes mostly in training

it would probably piss me off, but,

452

like five minutes after the play,

like oh for sure, like make you laugh.

453

Jacopo Caprile: It's- For me, Diego

is more- … different for me because-

454

For me, Diego is more about like,

uh, piss me off in training with the

455

Spanish accent, like Colombian accent,

it make me laugh at the same time.

456

Aaron: Nice.

457

Anybody who watched last episode that

hears that Micah's up there probably are

458

like, "He looks like such a nice guy."

459

Nino Alessandro: Yeah.

460

Aaron: All right.

461

Who's the player- I mean, you- … you

le- you least wanna go one on one with?

462

Nino Alessandro: I mean, I'm

sure we could say, do the same

463

thing they did last week uh J-

464

Jacopo Caprile: Yeah

465

… Nino Alessandro: Jake Lane for sure.

466

Jacopo Caprile: Yeah, Jake.

467

Absolutely

468

Mike: All right.

469

Player you are…

470

Sorry.

471

Who ha- who's the best

finisher on the team?

472

Jacopo Caprile: I can

let Janinya go first.

473

Nino Alessandro: Okay.

474

I'll try to say someone

different from last week.

475

I'll say

476

Mike: Jason Perks.

477

Hey, if it's, if, if that's the

truth, it's the truth, right?

478

So you don't have to go different

from last week just because.

479

Nino Alessandro: No, I'll still

say, I'll still say Jason Perks.

480

I think when he cuts inside, uh, he has

the same finish every time, and Jason

481

Perks can definitely shoot the ball.

482

I'm sure you guys see- I

was- … the PKs as well.

483

Jacopo Caprile: Yeah, I would

say Jason too, but I also have

484

to give credit to, to Lewis.

485

Sometimes, uh, like you can see him

a l- a lot on the game sometimes.

486

And when the ball is on the bo-

is in the box, is one of the

487

top nine here in college soccer

488

Aaron: All right, my last one is gonna

be, who's most likely to end up a coach?

489

Nino Alessandro: For me, I

would say Michael Dessent.

490

Uh, he loves, he just loves football.

491

That's what he does.

492

Like me and him, we love to watch

games and, and I know me and him

493

after every game or after every

trans- like training session, we try

494

to analyze whatever the bit it is.

495

So I think, I think it's

him for sure for me.

496

Jacopo Caprile: I would like to

say myself, 'cause I really like

497

to watch football as well, but

I don't think I will be a coach.

498

So from how he play and how he deal

with everything, I would say Bazza

499

Mike: All right,

500

so this is gonna be my last one.

501

You guys do a lot of bus trips in soccer.

502

There's people you wanna sit next to, and

there's people you don't on a long trip.

503

So who is the person that you're

trying to avoid 'cause you're trying

504

to get some rest or get some work done?

505

Who do you not wanna

sit next to on the bus?

506

Nino Alessandro: Listen, I love this guy

to death, and I will always defend him on

507

the pitch no matter what, but sometimes

you wanna unwind a little bit and, you

508

know, Jake Lane, he's always on 100% go.

509

So maybe sometimes maybe Jake.

510

Aaron: Same answer.

511

I

512

Jacopo Caprile: would say Jake too.

513

Aaron: I mean, that dude's got energy in

everything he does in his life, right?

514

That's what it seems like.

515

Nino Alessandro: Yeah.

516

Yeah, for sure.

517

Aaron: All right, fellas.

518

So let's talk Friday.

519

Obviously for the fans, huge game.

520

For you guys, y'all have just been,

one game at a time, one game at a time.

521

So, it's just another game.

522

Uh, but it's important.

523

You guys are 13, they're four.

524

You're 7 and 0, they're 6 and 0.

525

It's the conference opener, so there

are like all these kind of storylines.

526

Does this game on Friday feel bigger

than any of the other ones, or is

527

it just another game that you have

to do what you've prepared to do?

528

Nino Alessandro: Yeah, for sure.

529

I would love to sit here and, you know,

kind of lie and say it's just another

530

game, but it's a big game for sure.

531

And, um, but most importantly, it's

another game at home, and that's what

532

I would say we mostly take pride in.

533

We're all, I'm sure, very excited for

this matchup, and we're gonna do all

534

our best we can to prepare for these

next couple days and, and give it all we

535

can to get those three points for sure

536

Jacopo Caprile: From my side,

yeah, I would say we can't lie

537

on that it's not a normal…

538

It will not be a normal game.

539

Will be a really high

pressure game for both side.

540

But I mean, it's something

that we- we're here for.

541

We're here to play th-

those kind of games.

542

So try to treat, uh, that game not like a

normal one, but, like, enjoy the pressure.

543

Uh, it's a privilege to have it.

544

Uh, it's a top 15 matchup, so just, just

go out and have fun, and if we can do

545

what we, we're prepar- we're preparing for

the game, I'm pretty sure we, we can win

546

Mike: Have you guys had a chance

to watch any tape of them yet?

547

Nino Alessandro: We've

watched a little bit.

548

We always follow you know, the

conference especially, so we've

549

watched them from, time to time.

550

But I'm sure these next couple days

we're gonna break them down to the best

551

of our abilities and, you know, we'll

be definitely prepared for come Friday.

552

Mike: Okay.

553

Yeah, I d- I just didn't…

554

I was gonna ask if you'd watched their

t- their film to, to kind of explain

555

their style to the fans a little bit

of kind of what they should expect

556

to see ODU facing on Friday night.

557

Yeah.

558

Jacopo Caprile: I would say that it's

gonna be a pretty high intensity game.

559

They're like, kind of like us, so

we like to put the ball in behind.

560

They like to do that, too.

561

So it's gonna be a pretty

fun game, high intensity.

562

We just need to keep to stay switched

on for the ni- for the whole 90s.

563

And I think I, I really

think that we can win it

564

Aaron: Awesome.

565

Well, we wanna make sure that people get

out there Friday night, pack the place.

566

So I'm gonna give you guys the floor.

567

Why should Monarch Nation be at the ODU

Soccer Complex Friday night at 7:00 PM?

568

Nino Alessandro: Yeah.

569

Like we said, like Jack

said top 15 matchup.

570

It's definitely gonna be, you know, a

game to watch and, and a great game.

571

And of course a game for us

that we definitely wanna win.

572

And the way we could definitely win is

with that 12th man support from the fans.

573

So, uh, we're gonna need, uh, every

single help we can to win that match

574

Jacopo Caprile: Yeah, and it's also

Family Week, so whoever when it comes

575

to the game, just bring your family.

576

We, we need, we need as, as many

people as possible out there

577

Mike: I did see ODU announced if you

have a football ticket for Saturday,

578

you can get in free to the soccer game.

579

The crowds have been growing.

580

Last Friday's crowd was awesome.

581

If we can j- grow on that,

that would be even better.

582

Um, but yeah, get a … Thank you

guys so much for joining us today.

583

We really appreciate it, and we

can't wait to root you on Friday

584

night against South Carolina.

585

Nino Alessandro: Thank you so much.

586

Thank you

587

Jacopo Caprile: guys for having us.

588

Nino Alessandro: Thank you.

589

Jacopo Caprile: See you guys Friday night.

590

Nino Alessandro: Thank you, guys.

591

Jacopo Caprile: Thank you.

592

See you.

593

Mike: All right, Monarchs.

594

We're back with Coach Tennant McVea.

595

7 and 0.

596

How's it feel?

597

Tennant McVea: Uh, it feels good.

598

It was a little bit a

little bit shaky on Monday.

599

Um, but felt really good.

600

Uh, you know, you just used the word a

minute ago, you know, like, r- rivalry.

601

And, you know, we talked about that before

the game with the guys and you know,

602

I know that Wood's heavily invested in

that rivalry and, and always likes to

603

see our teams, you know, taking out VCU.

604

So I, I didn't get the job done for him

last year, but it was nice to, to come

605

home, you know, with a victory this time.

606

Mike: Beating VCU always makes

the Monarchs day better, so.

607

But I don't wanna go too far forward

'cause I wanna talk about that great

608

game last Friday night against UMBC.

609

First off, the crowd was awesome.

610

Like, I don't think I've ever seen

the soccer stadium that full before.

611

Tennant McVea: Yeah.

612

Mike: Um, it's- And

613

Tennant McVea: you g- you gotta go

back, I think West Virginia, a couple of

614

years we had a, a big crowd, you know.

615

And again, I gotta shout out BTFC you

know, uh, one of our biggest local clubs.

616

And, and, you know, not just Beach but

Beach particularly on this occasion.

617

Um, you know, that night was BTFC Night.

618

You know, we've got a lot of alumni,

a lot of, you know, people that

619

a- are involved with the club.

620

Um, you know, a lot of ties there.

621

I coached there.

622

So i- you know, it's nice to see

the community come out like that.

623

You know, we've been talking

about that from the start.

624

And, you know, the, the

atmosphere was fantastic.

625

Obviously, we're feeling good

about ourselves right now.

626

A good game, lots of goals.

627

It gets the kids excited.

628

All of the things that we want

to be happening for our program.

629

So to see that, you know, great

weather, great advert for soccer,

630

great advert for our program.

631

Uh, and to have that many

people there was just fantastic.

632

And I hope that encourages more people,

uh, you know, come and be around it.

633

Um, because in reality, and you guys are

there all the time, it's a fun night out.

634

And, uh, you know, it's a way to,

to support these guys that are

635

doing such a good job right now.

636

Aaron: Lots of fun, definitely.

637

So in that match, you're up 3-0.

638

You concede a goal right before

halftime, and then you come

639

right back out and you score two.

640

I think in your post-game comments,

you mentioned that at halftime

641

you challenged the players.

642

So what specifically

were you not happy about?

643

What, what was the challenge about?

644

Tennant McVea: So, you

know, I, I challenged.

645

We made some changes, you know,

and, and we're very lucky.

646

We've got an extremely deep squad,

and, you know, we've been able

647

to use a lot of guys this year.

648

My message to those players when

they go onto the field is like,

649

"Don't let our level drop."

650

You know, it's all well and good making

changes, but those changes should

651

at least keep us at the level that

we're playing at or raise the level.

652

And I felt in the last 15 minutes

of the half, some of the changes

653

that we made, you know, that,

that it did not raise our level.

654

It didn't keep our level where it needed

to be, and I thought we flatlined a

655

little bit and we weren't as good as

we had been in the first 30 minutes.

656

So, those guys, there's-- it's

an opportunity for them, so I

657

questioned that a little bit.

658

I gave some guys an opportunity to come

out in the second half and rectify that.

659

Some guys had to learn the hard way.

660

That's football, and those things happen.

661

Um, so you know, it was, it was

a little bit of a testing moment.

662

A, a good reminder for me as a coach

that, you know, while it's nice to

663

be able to make changes, you know,

sometimes you've got to back people

664

that are doing a good job for you.

665

So a lot of lessons learned.

666

Uh, you know, no harm, no foul in the end,

but the guys need to understand that when

667

they step on the pitch and they get given

that opportunity, we've gotta, we've gotta

668

keep our standards where they need to be.

669

Mike: So another thing on Friday night,

I had a chance to briefly interview

670

Eitan, and he asked me to ask you about

him and his relationship with you- Yep

671

and the suit.

672

Tennant McVea: Yep.

673

So uh, Eitan is, is such a, you

know, a good supporter of our

674

team, such a good kid, you know?

675

Uh, I've, I've known him

for a good few years now.

676

He's a local kid, um, that is

just so passionate about the game.

677

Uh, and last year when things were going

a little bit sort of up and down at the

678

start of the season dur- when it came to

the conference time, uh, you know, he-

679

we get a win and he's wearing a suit.

680

You know, he come out the

sort of … You know, it was a

681

little bit of a joke between us.

682

Um, but when he did it, we played

well and we continued that little, um,

683

you know, tradition moving forward.

684

Um, but even in the summertime I saw him.

685

I got to enjoy a World Cup with him in the

summertime you know, down on Shore Drive.

686

Uh, he's a local boy to there.

687

Uh, just a kid that he- he's

always been around, he's always

688

encouraging as he reaches out to

me on Instagram, says congrats.

689

He comes to see me at halftime,

comes to see me after the games.

690

And to see somebody that is, is at

this school, you know, that just

691

loves the game and wants to be

a part of our team while knowing

692

that, that, you know, "I can't play.

693

How can I support?

694

How can I be a part of it?"

695

Uh, and to be fair, the lads have really,

you know, grown to know him too, and he's

696

built relationships with those guys too,

and that's such a special thing to see.

697

Um, you know, because there's, there's

cases like that and there's guys in, in my

698

f- life now, in my community, uh, and the

alumni of our team that some of their best

699

friends to this day are guys that were

in that sim- similar position that Eitan

700

is, where he's not a part of the team but

he's like an abbreviation to it, you know?

701

And is a part of it in a different way.

702

And so to see those things is

fantastic, and we'd love to

703

continue that moving forward.

704

Mike: Like an adopted member of the team.

705

Tennant McVea: 100%.

706

Shout out to Ralph Kelly and Austin

Butt, the all-time adopted guys.

707

Aaron: Yeah, it's not only

the team that likes him.

708

I, I think the video, Mike, you know, did

a brief interview with him at halftime.

709

A few days ago, the video had already

been viewed, like, over 10,000 times.

710

Tennant McVea: Yeah.

711

Aaron: So it's clear

that everybody likes him.

712

Tennant McVea: Oh, great kid.

713

Really great kid.

714

Aaron: Yeah.

715

So one thing that just continues to jump

off the, the page is scoring is coming

716

from everywhere, whether it's Lewis or

it's Jason, or Micah seems to be putting

717

one in the net every, every match now.

718

Well,

719

Tennant McVea: let let's

call it like this, guys.

720

You know, like, podcast, you know,

like, you know, people this week,

721

you know, are, are goal scorers.

722

We can't let that one slide right now.

723

Micah and Jason obviously combining,

you know, this week, you know,

724

to get on the score sheet.

725

Uh, so let's hope that continues.

726

Um, but to your point, yeah,

and it's, it's so good.

727

You know, like, last year

we were reliant on Lou.

728

Um, but to see so many guys feel confident

you know, to get opportunities in front

729

of goal and to take them, it's so good

to see Micah get on the score sheet.

730

He had such a good springtime

and then a setback in the summer.

731

But he's been consistent over

the last couple of games.

732

Uh, M- Miguel got on the score sheet

this week, which is great to see.

733

So, long may it continue, and I think

if we continue in the, the quest of

734

putting the balls in the right areas, you

know, helping guys, you know, understand

735

that if they do the right things, then

they're gonna get those opportunities.

736

Um, and let's keep it rolling.

737

Aaron: Well, as a quick follow-up to

that, I do like the podcast effect.

738

Shortly after the VCU game,

we saw this, uh, story.

739

Tegan Dunn had posted the play

that you were talking about-

740

Mm-hmm … and the podcast effect.

741

So it's awesome seeing folks that

are engaging with the show, with the

742

current players and all that sort.

743

It just makes it fun.

744

Tennant McVea: Oh, yeah.

745

Well done, Tegan.

746

I didn't give Tegan much credit when he

was here, but I do give him credit now.

747

Mike: All right.

748

So Monday, VCU, you go up to Richmond.

749

You escape there with a win.

750

Talk to us about this game and

kind of how it unfolded for

751

those of us that had to work and

couldn't really lock in and focus.

752

Tennant McVea: Yeah, it look,

really interesting game.

753

Obviously, play on Friday night.

754

You got to get refocused again

over the weekend for a, a

755

Monday afternoon game at 3:00.

756

Um, you know, a new facility up there

and, you know, new pitch, hard pitch.

757

You know, and just a lot of things that

are sort of unusual, you know, to it.

758

And I talked to the guys at, at

the weekend about having an edge

759

and finding the edge because

they were in the exact same boat.

760

Uh, obviously VCU are a bit

of a wounded animal right now.

761

Uh, I said this before the

game and I said it after.

762

They're the best O and whatever they

are team in the country and, you

763

know, they've played a really tough

schedule, uh, some really top teams.

764

And we knew that they were going to

come out, uh, and have a go at us.

765

We had beaten them the last

game we played in the springtime

766

in the Commonwealth Cup final.

767

Uh, you know, obviously we celebrated

that a little bit and, you know,

768

probably riled them up a little bit.

769

They're under pressure, so the

coach had them ready for it.

770

They were ready for it.

771

Luckily we started the

game extremely well.

772

We get off the mark really quick.

773

We score another early goal.

774

The really concerning thing for me then

after was our level just dropped, and we

775

allowed them to get back into the game.

776

Um, you know, we looked a little bit

sluggish and we didn't cover the ground,

777

you know, horizontally that, that we

normally do, which was disappointing.

778

Uh, and, and they pose a

really unique threat in the

779

way that they play, you know.

780

They're extremely comfortable on the ball.

781

That's been their MO always.

782

I think they lacked a little

bit of a goal threat, you know,

783

like in and around the box.

784

To, to my point there, the goal

that they scored is 20 yards out

785

and it's an absolute screamer.

786

But you know, they

didn't really trouble us.

787

But the system and, and what we

were doing, and because we didn't

788

work hard enough meant that we had

to make a change a- after we scored

789

the second goal going into halftime.

790

And it was more so a, you know,

we're on the road here, you

791

know, we haven't played well.

792

How do we make sure that

we stay defensively sound?

793

So we, we played in a really strange

Christmas tree formation which has

794

been used at, at certain levels.

795

It worked for us defensively, but it

meant then that we did not have a lot of

796

control of the ball in the second half.

797

So we had to, to ride it a little bit.

798

The guys put a shift in defensively.

799

We limited them as much as we could.

800

Uh, they had a good opportunity

towards the end of the game, and

801

David Chapman made a great block.

802

Alex also made a great

save in the second half.

803

Um, so you know, uh, uh, me and Dave,

their coach, have a good relationship

804

and, um, you know, he, he sent me a, a

nice message after the game and you know,

805

basically like, like, "Keep it going.

806

Your team are believing right now."

807

And Monday was, a show of that belief.

808

We didn't play our best, but we

believed in what we were doing.

809

We stuck to our guns, and we were

able to come away with a result.

810

So, you know, credit to the lads.

811

Tough game.

812

Uh, credit to VCU.

813

Tough place to go and play.

814

Uh, and I'm glad that we come

out the back end with a win.

815

Aaron: I like that word believe.

816

So I completely forgot it came out.

817

Last night I realized … And

Lisa and I have just finished

818

watching Better Call Saul.

819

We're like, "Oh, what

are we gonna watch now?"

820

She mentioned something.

821

I didn't really feel like watching it.

822

And I said, "Oh, Ted Lasso's got a

823

new season."

824

And she's like, "Ooh."

825

So- Let, let's get it going.

826

… that's what I'm thinking about.

827

Let's get it going.

828

Yeah.

829

Yeah.

830

So last week s- last week we

celebrate breaking into the top 25

831

for the first time in eight years.

832

This year, or this week, that moves up.

833

So I think the number 13 in one and Top

Drawer has you number 11 in another.

834

I know you guys don't talk about this

stuff that much, but are you able to at

835

least enjoy that for, a couple minutes?

836

Tennant McVea: Yeah.

837

L- look, uh, there's a lot of

reasons why that's important.

838

You know, at, at the end of the

day, that national recognition's

839

always helpful in recruiting.

840

You know, and it's great for

the guys to see that, you know,

841

other people are watching and,

um, taking notice a little bit.

842

And it's tough to get in there, and

it's even tougher to stay every week.

843

So you know like we talked about

you know, at the end of the day

844

it's not the end of the season.

845

There's still a lot of work to do.

846

Um, but to put a, put, uh, put ourselves

in a position this week to be number 13 in

847

the country, 11 in Top Drawer Soccer and

to also be competing against a team who

848

are playing very well, uh, you know, who

are number one and number four in their

849

respective pools it, it's all good stuff.

850

And it's opportunity.

851

Uh, it's all opportunity, and the guys

have worked so hard to get to this point.

852

You know, like you talked about

it's not all about that, but

853

it's a nice shine on things.

854

It's a little bit of a recognition

that I think our players deserve.

855

Um, and, and long may it continue.

856

That's, that's where we want to be.

857

We want to be in that national

picture every single week.

858

Um, and I'm really glad that we were able

to do enough this week to, to not only

859

stay in the picture but also climb it.

860

Mike: And you doing that is creating

excitement around the program.

861

Obviously, the start has a big part

of that, but I'm seeing people talking

862

about going to the game on Friday I've

never seen them talk about soccer.

863

And I've been trying to get

to watch this show for years-

864

Tennant McVea: Yeah

865

… Mike: so they could understand why they

need to be rooting for you and the boys.

866

But it's so great to see that the

excitement around Old Dominion

867

is growing for this program.

868

Tennant McVea: Yeah.

869

No, look, I, uh, look, I- it's…

870

I'm in the gym this

morning and I got stopped.

871

You know, I go to the gym every morning.

872

I'm in there all the time and, y- you get

to become sort of seen in and around it.

873

But, you know, people are still,

"Hey, are you the soccer coach?"

874

Like, "You guys have started great."

875

And, um, you know, even in the community,

in the street, uh, you know, people are

876

recognizing that and you know, I think

the guys are getting that recognition

877

and, and people are starting to go,

"Hey, maybe there is something here, and

878

maybe it is a little bit special, and

maybe it is something that we can enjoy."

879

A- and that's what we've wanted to do.

880

We've talked about community, you

know, nearly every week that we've

881

done this, and it's great to see the

community get behind us, and I gonna

882

continue to push people to come join

our family, come and be a part of this,

883

come and be around these special young

men that just wanna to put something

884

out there that is representative of

who we are and representative of our

885

program and this fantastic university.

886

Aaron: So Tennant, now is the time for

the, my favorite part of the podcast,

887

the educational part of the podcast.

888

It's the Tennant McVea word of the day.

889

This one's perfect because Jack

literally did this on Monday.

890

And the word, it's actually a phrase,

but the word is put it in the mixer.

891

Tennant McVea: Oh.

892

Put it in the mixer.

893

The, well, the, the mixer refers

to basically the 18-yard box.

894

You know, like, the, in

the front of the goal.

895

And i- it's, you know, that when it

comes to the end of the game, or you

896

nor- normally hear it when you're one-nil

down and you're chasing the game and

897

there's a few minutes left, and it's,

you know, we're done passing here, guys.

898

Just put it in the mixer.

899

And, you know, that's an, an old

one that comes out all the time.

900

I probably refrain from using it as a

coach these days, but I'm sure a lot of

901

fans on the terrace, you know, if that

happens at the, the, the weekend, then

902

hopefully we're one-nil up, and hopefully

we're not having to chase the game.

903

Um, but at the end of the game, we'll

just be putting it in the mixer, uh, you

904

know, and getting it as far away from

our goal as we can humanly possibly do.

905

But a great phrase.

906

Very old one that comes out, '90s

football in England, that would've

907

been, you know, a, a favorite towards

the end if you were chasing the game

908

Mike: All right.

909

And I'm gonna ask about my favorite

thing to ask about now, because every

910

time I ask this, and we go to the games,

and it's exactly how you described.

911

Yeah.

912

So talk to us about South Carolina's

play style and what we can expect

913

to see from them on Friday night.

914

Tennant McVea: Yeah.

915

So, a really organized group this year.

916

You know, th- they do things

a little bit differently with

917

the ball and without the ball.

918

So they'll build in a 3-2, and then,

you know, a 5 or a 4-1, depending on

919

what way they're going, and they'll

push one of their fullbacks higher.

920

Um, that's became quite a, a normal

thing to do these days, you know, to

921

create an overload higher in the field.

922

Um, defensively, they'll be strong and

rigid in a 4-1, 4-1, maybe a 4-4-2 at the

923

times, depending on what they're doing.

924

Um, so they're, they're

working really hard.

925

They're built a little bit like us.

926

They wanna win duels.

927

You know, they wanna dominate the game.

928

Uh, they have the ability

to run behind you.

929

They've got some guys that are very

tricky on the ball and can drive and

930

you know, be electric just like we do.

931

So, you know, it's a very, it's a

very evenly matched up sort of style

932

towards, you know, what people are doing.

933

And, um, you know, I, I've

said this a lot this week.

934

It's the first time in a

long time that we've had a

935

You know, we're in the top 25, but, you

know, we've had the Marshals and the

936

West Virginias that have come to our

house that have been ranked in the last

937

couple years, and the attitude's always

been, you know, "How can we hold on?

938

Can we scrape a result here?

939

Can we do something by hanging on?"

940

No, this is gonna be two teams that

are gonna go out and play each other

941

straight up, and they're gonna … You

know, we're gonna do what we do.

942

They're gonna do what they do.

943

Um, and I do think a lot of what comes

out of it on, on Friday night is gonna

944

be sheer effort and sheer, putting

your badge on your chest and saying,

945

"I'm gonna, I'm gonna do the work

that I need to for my team tonight."

946

So, you know, I, I don't think

there's too much cuteness.

947

Uh, you know, they're gonna

know what we do very well.

948

We know what they do very well.

949

And it's gonna be who can handle

that and who can handle, you

950

know, the, the top 25 fixture.

951

And can we, relax into it and find

our rhythm and, and continue to do

952

the things that we do very well.

953

And it should be a really good

advert for college soccer.

954

Mike: So with similar play styles,

obviously you guys love to attack

955

and you're your best when you attack.

956

Tennant McVea: Yep.

957

Mike: I would imagine the same for them

considering the style of play do you

958

have to pick your spots more carefully

when the other team also loves to attack?

959

Tennant McVea: Yeah, look, I think

it's j- it's just how do you get there,

960

you know, and, you know, a- and what

phase of the game are you in when

961

you get there, is it from a defen- is

it a- an attack in transition where,

962

you know, they might be unbalanced?

963

Is there good spaces for us to hit?

964

Do we have a sustained, you know,

bit of time on the ball, um, you

965

know, that we're, we're trying to

work in, in the areas that we wanna

966

then get penetration into the box.

967

I think it depends on the

moment within the game.

968

But you know, I, I just…

969

You know, it- this is a, it's

a good matchup, you know.

970

I think physically, you know,

we're both pretty similar that way.

971

You know, but, uh, I don't think

a lot changes for either team.

972

We're just gonna be very aware of

what the other team does extremely

973

well, and we're gonna be trying

to, to not let them do that.

974

So great coaching staff.

975

You know, they, they're, they're-

they've done a great job so far.

976

So, um, it's just let's see who, who

can come out on top on the night.

977

Aaron: So last year we

talked about styles.

978

It was Mike was just talking about styles.

979

You were talking about styles.

980

And in the Sun Belt being teams that

were so diverse in how they played.

981

It- every, every night you were

seeing a different sort of style.

982

So in the style that you just talked about

with South Carolina, have we seen a team

983

this year that played a similar style?

984

And if so, who would that be?

985

Tennant McVea: Yeah, probably

the, probably in Elon.

986

A little bit, you know, in that sort

of a mold that, you know, have the

987

ability to, to play a little bit of

football, but also be big and direct,

988

um, you know, at times as well.

989

You know, I think that's probably

the, the best comparison, you

990

know, up until this point.

991

Uh, where there are physical,

there's physical matches.

992

There's sort of tactical similarities

in what they're trying to do.

993

Um, so I think that would

probably be the best headby side.

994

Mike: Uh, I was happy to see earlier

today that the school announced if

995

you have a football ticket, you're

gonna get in for free on Friday night.

996

Tennant McVea: Yep.

997

Mike: Uh, smart way to get all the

football fans maybe traveling from out

998

of town to get out to the soccer stadium.

999

Tennant McVea: I, I hope that, and, and

the, uh, you know, I gotta give credit

00:54:44,820 --> 00:54:45,940

where credit's due here this week.

00:54:45,960 --> 00:54:47,700

You know, I talked to Coop

and the guys over there.

00:54:47,720 --> 00:54:50,130

You know, they were the ones

that brought that idea to me.

00:54:50,150 --> 00:54:53,520

You know, hopefully our, our football

fans out there, uh, can push it.

00:54:53,560 --> 00:54:57,430

I've reached out to the local clubs,

you know, encouraging, uh, you know,

00:54:57,430 --> 00:55:00,210

people that were there at the game

last week to get back out again.

00:55:00,470 --> 00:55:04,220

Um, the guys are gonna get on campus

tomorrow before training, uh, and

00:55:04,230 --> 00:55:07,750

they're gonna engage with the students,

you know, around, uh, it as well.

00:55:07,750 --> 00:55:09,090

So I think that's gonna be a good thing.

00:55:09,090 --> 00:55:13,710

So, uh, you know, just hoping that as many

of our fans of other sports can get out

00:55:13,710 --> 00:55:15,520

there and come and cheer these guys on.

00:55:16,850 --> 00:55:18,270

Mike: So I wa- I wanna add one more note.

00:55:18,300 --> 00:55:22,770

It was last Friday when I arrived

to the stadium, um, there was

00:55:22,770 --> 00:55:25,320

a football game going on, so

we had to park somewhere else.

00:55:26,210 --> 00:55:32,280

Uh, but as I walked up to the stadium,

the line was out the door almost to

00:55:32,280 --> 00:55:37,540

the baseball stadium, and it made me

so happy, like- … like getting folks

00:55:37,540 --> 00:55:39,860

out here to really enjoy ODU soccer.

00:55:39,920 --> 00:55:40,220

It's-

00:55:40,280 --> 00:55:40,560

Tennant McVea: Yeah

00:55:40,680 --> 00:55:41,280

… Mike: it's cool.

00:55:41,690 --> 00:55:42,630

Tennant McVea: No, it's brilliant.

00:55:42,730 --> 00:55:43,990

It's absolutely fantastic.

00:55:43,990 --> 00:55:47,540

It, it's, as a coach, you know, of these

guys, and you're watching that, you

00:55:47,540 --> 00:55:49,890

know, and we're getting ready as the

game's getting ready to start and stuff,

00:55:49,900 --> 00:55:53,360

and there's still people streaming in

the gate, it's such a great feeling.

00:55:53,360 --> 00:55:57,130

Those nights here, you know, and I've been

here for, you know, almost 15 years now.

00:55:57,130 --> 00:56:01,270

And, and I've had some of those

nights and, and those are my favorite.

00:56:01,410 --> 00:56:05,490

And I think Friday has the ability to

really be another one of those evenings.

00:56:07,184 --> 00:56:10,684

Aaron: So obviously this is a big game.

00:56:11,144 --> 00:56:13,314

Fans realize, hey, Old Dominion is ranked.

00:56:13,344 --> 00:56:14,554

They're moving up the rankings.

00:56:14,554 --> 00:56:16,444

South Carolina is a ranked team.

00:56:16,764 --> 00:56:20,774

I think what's not being talked about,

and maybe it's the, the funkiness of the,

00:56:20,834 --> 00:56:26,444

the Sun Belt in different sports is some

people don't realize this is the first

00:56:26,564 --> 00:56:29,564

conference game of the season as well.

00:56:29,584 --> 00:56:31,874

So that has implications on its own.

00:56:32,274 --> 00:56:32,454

Yep.

00:56:32,584 --> 00:56:37,084

So, this game is obviously a big game

for a number of different reasons.

00:56:37,144 --> 00:56:41,424

It just feels like a big

game for us as, as fans.

00:56:41,854 --> 00:56:43,414

Would you say that's a fair statement?

00:56:44,244 --> 00:56:45,004

Tennant McVea: Three points.

00:56:45,824 --> 00:56:48,104

You know, this is the first time

I've had to say it this year.

00:56:48,134 --> 00:56:52,014

You know, th- this is what comes into

it and, all of the rankings, all of the

00:56:52,014 --> 00:56:55,744

wins, all that type of stuff, when it

comes down to, to this week and, and

00:56:55,744 --> 00:56:59,004

all of our conference games, you know,

up until this point, we are clamoring

00:56:59,004 --> 00:57:00,394

for every point that we can get.

00:57:00,984 --> 00:57:04,304

Every point matters in our league

and, you know, if you're not in that

00:57:04,304 --> 00:57:06,824

tournament at the end of the season,

then you don't have a chance to win it.

00:57:07,104 --> 00:57:09,944

So, you know, for us, we've

got limited home games this

00:57:09,944 --> 00:57:11,154

year in, in the conference.

00:57:11,164 --> 00:57:13,104

You know, we, we go away

more than we're at home.

00:57:13,194 --> 00:57:14,164

That's just the way that it is.

00:57:14,464 --> 00:57:16,204

So we've got to be really…

00:57:16,464 --> 00:57:17,814

You know, we gotta win our home games.

00:57:17,814 --> 00:57:21,574

We gotta pick up these points, um, because

none of them in our league are easy.

00:57:21,814 --> 00:57:24,504

There is no just automatic,

"Here's three points for you guys."

00:57:24,804 --> 00:57:29,704

Because every week you know, now every

team is clamoring to get in and, you

00:57:29,704 --> 00:57:31,984

know, you guys have been sitting with

me doing this for the last couple

00:57:31,984 --> 00:57:34,944

of years, and it's like, you know,

every year you get to the end and, you

00:57:34,944 --> 00:57:36,604

know, you, you need that extra point.

00:57:36,644 --> 00:57:39,684

You know, we got that point against

Kentucky last year that got us there.

00:57:39,994 --> 00:57:43,444

You know, I think the year before we got

a, we got a point somewhere, you know,

00:57:43,444 --> 00:57:44,944

that, that helped us get over the line.

00:57:44,964 --> 00:57:46,094

So every point matters.

00:57:46,104 --> 00:57:47,454

So today was my first day.

00:57:48,594 --> 00:57:49,164

Three points.

00:57:50,174 --> 00:57:53,384

That's what we're aiming for this

weekend, and, uh, if we, if we

00:57:53,384 --> 00:57:56,304

focus on that, I think everything

else takes care of itself.

00:57:57,820 --> 00:58:00,640

Mike: All right, and I don't wanna

… 'Cause we probably won't talk until,

00:58:00,650 --> 00:58:04,700

like, probably next Wednesday, which

means we have to briefly talk about

00:58:04,700 --> 00:58:09,950

William & Mary, 'cause it's another ri-

former rival, like a team we like to beat.

00:58:10,400 --> 00:58:10,690

Tennant McVea: Yep.

00:58:10,790 --> 00:58:14,460

Mike: Tuesday night at,

at the stadium, 6:00 PM.

00:58:15,320 --> 00:58:19,070

It looks like it's Monarchs Give

Back night, faculty and staff night.

00:58:19,800 --> 00:58:22,520

Can you tell us about the style

of play that William & Mary plays?

00:58:23,040 --> 00:58:24,670

Tennant McVea: Well, I,

so I, I'm gonna be honest.

00:58:24,710 --> 00:58:28,270

I think this year they've been,

uh … You know, William & Mary

00:58:28,270 --> 00:58:29,530

have had a couple of tough years.

00:58:29,730 --> 00:58:31,840

You know, they, they've, you

know, they've had the bounce.

00:58:31,840 --> 00:58:33,690

They're playing a really

tough league in the CAA.

00:58:33,930 --> 00:58:36,280

You know, and they've always been

a team that have sort of cherished

00:58:36,290 --> 00:58:37,920

sort of playing with the ball.

00:58:38,120 --> 00:58:42,060

Um, they'll, they'll overload one side and

maybe try to switch out the other side.

00:58:42,300 --> 00:58:45,990

I think this year, uh, and, you

know, again, this … I haven't seen

00:58:45,990 --> 00:58:48,160

enough of them, but I think they're

a little bit more direct this year.

00:58:48,390 --> 00:58:51,130

I think they're playing a little

bit more, you know, we gotta be

00:58:51,130 --> 00:58:52,460

more forward focused, you know?

00:58:52,460 --> 00:58:53,830

So that's my understanding right now.

00:58:54,600 --> 00:58:55,800

It'll be interesting to see.

00:58:55,800 --> 00:58:57,050

You know, it's a midweek game.

00:58:57,310 --> 00:58:58,880

They're playing in the

conference this weekend.

00:58:58,900 --> 00:59:00,590

They're playing the

conference again next weekend.

00:59:00,810 --> 00:59:03,910

It's one of those midweek games, you

know, in the middle of the season

00:59:03,910 --> 00:59:06,740

that, you know, me and Chris will both

probably be looking at each other on

00:59:06,740 --> 00:59:08,680

Tuesday night going, "Why are we here?"

00:59:09,680 --> 00:59:10,030

You know?

00:59:10,260 --> 00:59:13,340

It's just it's just … You know,

you don't think about those things

00:59:13,340 --> 00:59:15,550

as you, as you plan a new schedule.

00:59:15,800 --> 00:59:18,380

You know, I've got a lot of, you

know, love and respect for Chris.

00:59:18,390 --> 00:59:22,890

You know, I, I've known him for a very

long time and it's always a, a big rivalry

00:59:22,890 --> 00:59:24,300

game when you play against William & Mary.

00:59:24,300 --> 00:59:26,170

There's a lot of ties

between the two programs.

00:59:26,480 --> 00:59:28,500

So, it'll … It's always a tough game.

00:59:28,630 --> 00:59:29,950

They've gotta, you know, come in.

00:59:30,680 --> 00:59:31,890

We've gotta be prepared for it.

00:59:31,950 --> 00:59:34,900

So we'll see what we

get, but I don't know.

00:59:36,370 --> 00:59:36,970

Excuse me.

00:59:37,970 --> 00:59:38,290

Aaron: Bless you.

00:59:39,050 --> 00:59:39,230

Yeah.

00:59:39,530 --> 00:59:39,990

All right.

00:59:40,000 --> 00:59:44,780

So you've been asking Monarch

Nation to get behind this program.

00:59:44,780 --> 00:59:48,050

We've been asking Monarch Nation to

get behind this program, and people are

00:59:48,050 --> 00:59:52,670

seeing that the blocks that you guys

have been stacking continue to stack.

00:59:53,020 --> 00:59:55,040

The vision is starting to come together.

00:59:57,096 --> 01:00:00,446

There's not a whole lot that you

should have to sell Friday night.

01:00:00,486 --> 01:00:04,726

I mean, it's two two really good

teams that have been very successful.

01:00:05,016 --> 01:00:11,506

The, the only zeros that both

teams have are in losses, in ties.

01:00:11,656 --> 01:00:13,116

No one's lost a game.

01:00:13,516 --> 01:00:17,306

Here's your opportunity to sell

Monarch Nation on where they need to

01:00:17,316 --> 01:00:19,736

be at 7:00 PM on Friday night and why.

01:00:20,046 --> 01:00:20,296

Tennant McVea: Yeah.

01:00:20,346 --> 01:00:24,226

Look, it's a, it's a big weekend

for Monarch sports again, and, you

01:00:24,226 --> 01:00:27,176

know, we're very fortunate, you know,

this weekend to be a part of that.

01:00:27,406 --> 01:00:31,376

I'd like to encourage also anybody

to think about field hockey.

01:00:31,376 --> 01:00:34,766

They kick off before us

on, on Friday afternoon.

01:00:35,006 --> 01:00:37,446

Andrew and his girls have been

doing absolutely fantastically

01:00:37,466 --> 01:00:38,436

to start the season.

01:00:38,666 --> 01:00:40,726

We then get it going on Friday night.

01:00:40,966 --> 01:00:45,476

You know, the first top 15, you know,

matchup that's been on this field,

01:00:45,496 --> 01:00:48,596

you know, for a, probably going on 10

years, maybe even longer than that.

01:00:48,676 --> 01:00:51,236

And these guys need your support.

01:00:51,526 --> 01:00:54,026

They deserve your res- y-

your support at this point.

01:00:54,286 --> 01:00:57,536

Uh, and we just love seeing so many people

out these last couple of weeks to get

01:00:57,536 --> 01:00:59,666

behind us and, and long may that continue.

01:01:00,156 --> 01:01:02,736

You know, and then hopefully

Ricky and the boys can get it

01:01:02,736 --> 01:01:04,706

done on Saturday against ECU.

01:01:04,986 --> 01:01:08,126

Uh, you know, I know Fred's on the road

and, and know other teams are playing too.

01:01:08,126 --> 01:01:09,276

I don't wanna forget anybody.

01:01:09,536 --> 01:01:11,886

But big weekend for Monarch sports.

01:01:12,126 --> 01:01:14,146

Big match up Friday night, 7:00 PM.

01:01:14,366 --> 01:01:16,406

Let's get behind the lads

and let's get that win.

01:01:19,434 --> 01:01:21,734

Mike: I'm ready to run through a bi-

brick wa- a brick wall right now.

01:01:23,094 --> 01:01:23,914

Aaron: Yeah, let's go.

01:01:25,814 --> 01:01:25,874

Tennant McVea: Let's go.

01:01:25,874 --> 01:01:25,944

Go Monarchs.

01:01:26,174 --> 01:01:27,134

Mike: Go Monarchs.

01:01:27,734 --> 01:01:28,254

Get out there.

01:01:31,284 --> 01:01:31,434

Aaron: Yeah.

01:01:31,444 --> 01:01:32,194

Go Monarchs