n the Lion’s Den - S2EP06 ft. Tennant McVea | ODU Men’s Soccer Coach on Tournament Push & Kentucky Battle

Old Dominion Men’s Soccer Head Coach Tennant McVea joins Aaron and Mike to break down a huge week for the Monarchs — from the rivalry draw at JMU to a gritty comeback vs. #18 Kentucky that sealed their spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

Coach McVea opens up about ODU’s resilience, tactical evolution, and leadership on and off the pitch, with special praise for standout striker Lewis Rourke. The guys also dig into officiating drama, the physicality of the Kentucky game, and what it’ll take to upset West Virginia this Sunday.

Plus: soccer lingo lessons like “handbags” and “tiki-taka” — because every Monarch needs to sound sharp come matchday.

📅 ODU vs. West Virginia – Sunday, 3 PM on ESPN+

👑 Support ODU student-athletes: theprideofodu.com

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⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Presented by The Pride of ODU

00:45 – Welcome back, Coach Tennant McVea

01:00 – The JMU rivalry match and late equalizer

04:00 – Battling #18 Kentucky: toughness, tactics, and heart

06:00 – Halftime message and second-half surge

08:00 – Lewis Rourke’s clutch goals and growing confidence

11:00 – Preparing for West Virginia in the Sun Belt Tournament

13:00 – Kentucky red cards and refereeing frustrations

16:00 – Adjustments heading into Morgantown

17:30 – What ODU must do to beat WVU

18:00 – Tournament format: golden goal and penalties explained

21:00 – Postseason intensity and legacy moments

22:30 – Women’s team seeding and respect for the grind

25:00 – Soccer talk: “handbags” and “tiki-taka” explained

32:00 – Final thoughts and Go Monarchs!