NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University field hockey team will travel to the University of North Carolina for an exhibition match on Saturday, Aug. 22 at Francis E. Henry Stadium. The game is set to start at 1:00 p.m.
Head coach Andrew Griffiths and the Lady Monarchs completed the 2014 season with an 11-8 overall record and a 4-1 mark in the BIG EAST. Griffiths returns 13 letterwinners from last year’s roster, while adding nine new comers, eight of whom are freshmen.
Old Dominion returns two of its top five leading scorers from last season in All-BIG EAST selections Sarah Breen (10g, 2a) and Megan Byas (3g, 3a). Breen was selected to the BIG EAST first team to go along with her Longstreth/NFHCA Third Team All-American honors, while Byas earned second team all-conference laurels. Senior Caitlin Walsh also returns to the field for the Lady Monarchs after earning Second Team All-BIG EAST recognition during her junior campaign.
The Lady Monarchs were selected to finish second in the 2015 BIG EAST preseason poll; just five points behind defending two-time National Champions Connecticut. The top four teams at the conclusion of the regular season will earn a spot in the BIG EAST Field Hockey Championships held right here at ODU at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex on Nov. 6 and 8.
The Tarheels (19-4/4-2 ACC) advanced to the ACC Championship match last season, but fell to Maryland by a 2-0 margin. The team received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, making the program’s 34th appearance overall.
ODU opens the regular season with two home matches at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex, starting with Penn State on Aug. 28 followed by American on Aug, 30. Every home game will be streamed through Monarch Media, so sign up for your season package today!
Follow Old Dominion Field Hockey on Twitter at twitter.com/ODUFieldHockey and find them on Facebook at facebook.com/ODUFH.