NORFOLK, Va. – Despite holding a commanding 21-4 advantage in shots, the 12th-ranked Old Dominion field hockey team fell to BIG EAST opponent Temple, 1-0, on Tuesday afternoon at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex.
ODU fell to 8-6 overall and 1-2 in the league, while Temple snapped its eight-game losing streak to improve to 4-12 and 1-2 in the BIG EAST.
The Lady Monarchs opened the first 14 minutes of play with an offensive mindset by recording the game’s first five shots, but the Temple defense held ODU scoreless. The Owls responded three minutes later by converting on their first penalty corner of the contest at the 17:05 mark. Tricia Light inserted the ball to Rachel Steinman at the top of circle who set the ball for Sarah Deck to record her seventh goal of the season.
With six minutes left in the first half, Carrie Sensenig had an opportunity to score the equalizer, as she dove inside the circle and tipped the pass from Caitlin Walsh toward the goal. However, the attempt sailed just two inches wide of the cage. At the end of the first period, ODU held a 7-1 edge in shots, but the Owls were the ones to enter the intermission with the 1-0 lead.
The Lady Monarchs never let up on the offensive attack, as the team recorded 14 more shots in the second half, including one from Emily Harting 31 seconds into the half. Owls’ keeper Haley Mitchell and Temple defense stifled the Lady Monarchs by stopping eight of their 14 shots.
In the final 10 minutes of the match, ODU earned two opportunities to tie the game with back-to-back penalty corners. Alex Iqbal made the attempt on the first corner, placing the ball towards the right corner of the cage, but Mitchell was there to make the save. Harting hit a hard shot at the top of the circle on the second attempt and Casey Dolan took aim off the rebound, but Mitchell was there once again to make both saves and secure the win.
For the game, the Lady Monarchs outshot the Owls 21-4 and held an 11-6 advantage in penalty corners.
Kealsie Robles (7-5) suffered the loss for the Lady Monarchs and finished the game with two saves. Mitchell (4-12) played all 70 minutes in goal for the Owls and stopped 10 of ODU’s shot attempts.
The 1-0 loss marked the third-consecutive game the Lady Monarchs have fallen by that margin.
ODU will return to action this weekend, with a road trip to Villanova on Friday and to No. 15 Delaware on Sunday. ODU will take on the Wildcats at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and will face off with the Blue Hens Sunday at 1:00 p.m.