NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion's BIG EAST opener against Temple on Friday, originally scheduled for 3:05 p.m., has been pushed forward to a 12:05 p.m. start due to inclement weather. The game will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network and through Monarch Media.
The Lady Monarchs and the Owls will face off for the 24th time in the series that dates back to 1981. Old Dominion has dominated the series, holding a 20-2-1 advantage over Temple. Last season, ODU defeated No. 16 Temple in the regular season at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex by a score of 3-2. With the game tied 2-2 with 13:30 left, Caitlin Walsh scored the game winner for the 19th-ranked Lady Monarchs off a penalty corner. Temple and ODU faced off again in 2014, this time in the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals. Victoria Rezette gave the Lady Monarchs the early 1-0 lead, but the Owls fought back and scored two goals in the remaining minutes of the first half to hold on to the victory and end the season for ODU.
The Lady Monarchs enter the match up ranked No. 15 in the most recent NFHCA Coaches Poll. Last weekend, ODU fell to then No. 13 Liberty, 2-1, but bounced back to defeat old CAA rival No. 19 James Madison, 3-2. Old Dominion has posted a 6-3 overall record, defeating four ranked teams in the process. Senior Sarah Breen leads the offense with 20 points on nine goals and 2 assists, ranking six in the nation in goals per game. With her goal against Liberty, Breen reached 100 career points exactly. She added a assist at JMU and currently has 101 points on 43 goals and 15 assists. Sophomore Danielle Grega ranks second on the squad with 13 points (6g, 1a). Against JMU, Grega sparked the offense with two goals, marking the second time this season and in her career she has scored twice in one game.
The Owls enter the match-up with a 3-7 overall record after falling to American, 3-4. Alyssa Delp led the way with two assists and a goal, while Tricia Light and Sarah Keer each scored as well. Haley Mitchell played 68:26 minutes in goal before Owls’ head coach Marybeth Freeman pulled the keeper to add an extra field player. Mitchell finished the game with five saves. American held a slight 16-12 advantage in shots, but earned 12 penalty corners compared to Temple’s seven. Delp paces the Owls’ offense with 22 points on nine goals and four assists, while Sarah Deck ranks second with 14 points (6g, 2a). Mitchell has played the majority of time in goal for Temple and has recorded a 3.17 goals-against average and 52 saves.
The Lady Monarchs return to action on October 9 to take on conference foe Georgetown, before facing Virginia, the No. 4 team in the country, on October 11.
ODU vs. Temple (Oct. 2 – 12:05 PM)
BIG EAST Digital Network
Monarch Media Video
Live Stats
First Meeting: 1981
Last Meeting: 2014 (BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals)
Streak: Temple +1
Last Temple Win: 2014, 2-1 (BIG EAST Tournament Semifinals)
Last ODU Win: 2014, W, 3-2
Series History: ODU leads 20-2-1