NEWARK, Del. – The Old Dominion field hockey team suffered its fifth-consecutive loss after dropping a 2-1 contest to Delaware on Sunday afternoon at Fred P. Rullo Stadium. The Lady Monarchs move to 8-8 overall, while the Blue Hens improved to 13-4 on the season.
After trailing by two goals, the Lady Monarchs picked up their offensive pressure in the final period and with 2:16 left to play in the second half Megan Byas scored off a penalty corner to bring the score to 2-1. ODU pulled Kealsie Robles from the goal with two minutes on the clock to add an extra field player, but the Lady Monarchs could not overcome the two-goal first half deficit.
The Blue Hens struck first just two minutes into the contest after Esmee Peet scored her 11th goal of the season off a penalty corner. The Lady Monarchs responded and had a chance to net the equalizer after they were awarded their first penalty corner with 16 minutes left on the clock. Byas took the initial shot for ODU at the top of the circle, but a Delaware defensive player blocked the attempt and cleared the ball outside of the circle.
Three minutes later Delaware mounted an attack and got behind the ODU defensive and forced the Lady Monarchs to concede just their second penalty stroke of the season. The stroke was taken by Michaela Patzner who lifted the ball into the right side of the cage to give the Blue Hens the 2-0 lead with 13:08 left in the first half. Robles kept the Blue Hens from adding to their lead by making three key saves on penalty corners in the remaining 10 minutes.
The Lady Monarchs only chance on offense in the opening period came on the penalty corner attempt, while Delaware notched seven shots and tallied four corners to hold the 2-0 advantage at the intermission.
For the game, Old Dominion held a slight 9-8 advantage in shots and a 6-5 edge in penalty corners.
Robles (7-7) finished the game with three saves after playing 67:50 minutes in goal for the Lady Monarchs. Emmeline Oltmans earned the win for the Blue Hens
The Lady Monarchs are back in action Friday, October 30 at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex against Providence for their last BIG EAST contest of the season. Before the contest begins, ODU Athletics will honor the five seniors on the team.