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NORFOLK, Va. - The No. 1 Old Dominion field hockey team scored early and often and never looked back, topping No. 20 Northeastern, 6-2, Sunday afternoon at the Powhatan Sports Complex. Senior Rebecca Condie tallied her first two goals of the season and junior Maartje van Rijswijk doubled her season goal total by scoring twice as well.
Today's victory is Old Dominion's eighth over a ranked opponent this season and the Lady Monarchs (10-0, 2-0 CAA) have now matched their best start since 1997. Northeastern falls to 5-5 on the year overall and 0-2 in league play.
The Lady Monarchs kept the action in their offensive end for nearly the entire game, outshooting the Huskies 24-7. ODU also earned a season-high 13 penalty corners to NU's three.Van Rijswijk posted the first two ODU scores, with her second goal being assisted by freshman Lydia Velzian. In between van Rijswijk's two goals, NU's Crystal Poland netted her NCAA-leading 17th goal of the year. All of this scoring came in the games first eight minutes.
In the 20th minute, junior Christy Longacre gave ODU a two-goal cushion as she scored off a direct pass from Condie on a penalty corner. Less than six minutes later, sophomore Cassandra Wagner scored on a fastbreak that was set up by senior Kathryn Kirk. Just before the half, Condie corralled a rebound after the Huskies goalkeeper made a save and she scored to send ODU into the intermission up 5-1.
The dominant first half saw the Lady Monarchs own a 16-2 advantage in shots and a 9-1 lead in penalty corners.
Just over 10 minutes into the second period, Condie got on the board again. After two ODU shots were saved, the senior lifted the ball above the NU keeper and gave the Lady Monarchs a 6-1 lead at the 45:28 mark.
Northeastern's Pam Aldridge would score in the 52nd minute, but the Huskies would get no closer the rest of the contest.
Lady Monarch goalkeeper Devon Seifert registered three saves in the win and junior Julie Hodge made a critical defensive save early in the game.
Old Dominion steps out of conference on Friday to take on Richmond on the road. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at the newly-turfed Crenshaw Field.
-ODU-