May 3, 2013
2013 ODU Field Hockey Schedule
NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University field hockey team and head coach Andrew Griffiths unveiled their 18-game schedule for the 2013 season on Friday.
Joining the BIG EAST as an associate member in 2013 along with Louisville, Temple, Connecticut and Rutgers, the Lady Monarchs will play a seven-game conference schedule in addition to their challenging non-conference slate. ODU will play seven games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2012.
"We have an exciting and challenging schedule for the 2013 season, and have the chance to compete with some of the best field hockey programs in the country," said Griffiths. "With our move to the BIG EAST, we will be playing some new teams, and I know the players are also excited to develop some new rivalries in a new conference."
ODU opens the season with four consecutive home games but will be tested early as four of the Lady Monarchs’ first five opponents advanced to the quarterfinals of last year’s NCAA Tournament. Old Dominion opens the season against traditional rival Penn State on Aug. 30 followed by American on Sept. 1. The following weekend, ACC foes Maryland and Virginia travel to Norfolk on Sept. 6 and 8.
The Lady Monarchs hit the road for the first time on Sept. 13 when they head south to face North Carolina and then take on Duke on Sept. 15. The following weekend, ODU heads to Louisville for their first BIG EAST contest on Sept. 20 before rounding the weekend out against Michigan State.
Old Dominion returns home to face Providence in their BIG EAST home opener on Sept. 27 and then faces a pair of opponents for the first in program history in Quinnipiac on Sept. 29 followed by a meeting with Georgetown on Homecoming weekend on Oct. 6.
Heading to Philadelphia, the Lady Monarchs visit Villanova on Oct. 11 and Temple on Oct. 13 before returning home and stepping out of conference with William and Mary on Oct. 18 and then travelling to Maryland on Oct. 20.
The final full weekend of the season has ODU welcoming Connecticut on Oct. 25 and North Carolina on Oct. 27 before the Lady Monarchs close the regular season at Rutgers on Nov. 2.
Old Dominion is coming off a 15-6 campaign a year ago and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals after going 7-0 and capturing their record 15th CAA title in their last year in the league. The Lady Monarchs have been ranked in the Top-10 in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll dating back to the 2011 season.
The University of Connecticut will host the BIG EAST Championships on Nov. 8-10. The first two rounds of the NCAA Championships will take place on Nov. 16-17.
For the second consecutive year, Old Dominion will host the NCAA Division I national title game along with the national semifinals on Nov. 22 and 24. In addition, the Division II and Division III national title games will also be played at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex on Nov. 24.
Follow Old Dominion Field Hockey on Twitter at twitter.com/ODUFieldHockey and find them on Facebook at facebook.com/ODUFH.