Welcome back to In the Lion’s Den! 🦁
In this episode, the fellas sit down with Head Coach Tennant McVea to talk about the Monarchs’ late-season push, defensive improvements, key matchups against ranked opponents, and what lies ahead in the fight for the Sun Belt Tournament.
Coach McVea opens up about locker room conversations that sparked the team’s turnaround, the tactical adjustments that stabilized their defense, and the leadership of ODU’s senior class. Plus, in a fun twist, the guys dive into soccer lingo for fans learning the game — from “brace” to “parking the bus.”
💙⚽ Don’t miss it — great insights, humor, and energy from Coach McVea as the Monarchs make their postseason push!
📺 Watch on ESPN+ this Friday as ODU faces JMU, and catch Senior Night next Tuesday at the ODU Soccer Complex vs. Kentucky!
👍 Like, Comment, and Subscribe for more ODU sports talk from The Monarchists Podcast.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Presented by The Pride of ODU
00:25 – Welcome back: Catching up with Coach Tennant McVea
01:00 – Coastal Carolina win sparks momentum
02:00 – Fixing the defense: Honest talks and tactical tweaks
04:00 – On the road at South Carolina: Lessons from a 1–1 draw
05:30 – Competing in the stacked Sun Belt Conference
07:00 – The gap between ODU and Top 25 programs
08:00 – Playing ranked teams: Marshall and West Virginia battles
09:30 – Tactical patience and defensive discipline
11:00 – Creating chances but needing the finishing touch
12:00 – Looking ahead: Huge week with JMU and Kentucky
13:00 – Scouting JMU and preparing for a rivalry matchup
15:00 – Staying composed under pressure and chasing consistency
17:00 – Senior Night spotlight: The leadership core of the team
19:00 – Reflecting on player growth and the ODU soccer culture
20:00 – Soccer vocabulary lesson: Brace, percentages & “parking the bus”
25:00 – Trends in soccer and football tactics
27:00 – Game-day energy and community support
29:00 – Why ODU soccer games are family-friendly fun
30:00 – Coach’s message to Monarch Nation
31:00 – Closing thoughts – “Go Monarchs!”
