UNC Wilmington opened its three-game homestand with a 2-0 victory over Old Dominion Wednesday night. Junior defenseman Alejandro Saez led the team scoring both goals.  

This matchup was the 31st time the two programs have faced off, but the first since 2015. Old Dominion walked into the UNCW Soccer Stadium boasting a 22-7-1 record all time against the Seahawks, looking to continue the trend. Saez and the Seahawks had other plans. 

Seeing two goals come from a defenseman may be out of the ordinary, but the performance was not a surprise at all to UNCW coach Aidan Heaney, who credited Saez’s confidence saying, “[Y]ou can see it in his play, and of course getting two goals is only going to make him more confident moving forward.”

Saez was a bit more modest in addressing his scoring, saying it was thanks to his teammates.

“Especially that first one,” said Saez. “It was all because of the build up from Jacob (Evans) and his good dribble.” 

The shutout win over a former Colonial Athletic Association rival improved the Seahawks’ record to 6-4-1 and sends them back into conference play with confidence as they get ready to take on College of Charleston on Saturday Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at home.