NORFOLK, Va. – The No. 5 Old Dominion University field hockey team opens the home portion of their 2012 schedule on Sunday when they host Radford at 1 p.m. at Powhatan Field at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex.
Old Dominion (2-2) is coming off a split against a pair of top-10 ACC opponents on the road. On Friday, the Lady Monarchs defeated No. 1 Maryland for third consecutive time in the regular season with a 2-1 victory. It was the Terps’ first loss in their home opener in 17 years. On Sunday, ODU scored twice in one minute late but came up short in a 5-4 loss at No. 8 Virginia. The Lady Monarchs have started the season on the road against four nationally ranked opponents, three of which were in the top-10.
ODU is ranked fifth in the latest Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll. The Lady Monarchs have been ranked in the top five for 12 consecutive weeks dating back to last season.
Freshman midfielder Sarah Breen was named the CAA Rookie of the Week on Tuesday. Breen scored a goal in both games last weekend. The freshman scored on the game’s first penalty corner at No. 1 Maryland on Friday and tallied a goal in a 5-4 setback at No. 8 Virginia on Sunday off a penalty corner set in the 59th minute as ODU scored twice in one minute in their comeback effort. Breen leads ODU with three goals this season.
Sophomore Kelsey Smither has recorded an assist in each of the first four games of the season while sophomore Rosario Villagra leads the team in points with seven (two goals, three assists). Senior forward Kimberly Oakes scored in both contests over the weekend as well including what proved to be the game-winner on Friday night in the upset of the top-ranked Terps.
Radford (0-3) plays at William & Mary on Friday night and has struggled to score this season, managing just one goal in three contests so far. The Highlanders' loan goal of the season came from freshman Stacey MacKintosh in a 2-1 loss against Central Michigan.
ODU is 20-0 all-time against Radford with the last meeting come in 2007 when the Lady Monarchs won, 8-1, in Norfolk.
Fifth-Ranked Lady Monarchs Host Radford In Home Opener on Sunday
