NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion field hockey team clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Championships after earning a 5-0 victory over Providence at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex on Friday afternoon on Senior Day. The Lady Monarchs improved to 9-8 on the season while Providence fell to 4-14.
ODU got on the board early, as the Lady Monarchs’ aggressive opening led to senior Emily Harting converting a penalty stroke in the seventh minute. Junior Casey Dolan found the back of the net on an unassisted goal in the 20th minute of play to extend ODU’s lead to 2-0.
Entering the intermission, Old Dominion held the two-goal lead and outshot Providence 10-0 and also maintained a 3-0 penalty corner advantage over the Friars.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, junior Meg Byas blasted a ball into the upper right corner off a penalty corner to increase the Lady Monarchs’ lead to 3-0. Chrissy Horn was credited with the assist, bringing her total to seven on the season.
The Lady Monarchs wasted little time to score again, as Casey Dolan capitalized off a pass from Meg Byas to record her second goal of the game in the 49th minute to lengthen ODU’s lead to 4-0.
In the 60th minute, senior Teisha King sent a perfectly placed ball to Danielle Grega who fired it past the Friar goalkeeper for the Lady Monarchs’ fifth score of the afternoon.
For the game, ODU outshot Providence 22-4 and held a 10-1 penalty corner advantage over the Friars. Old Dominion goalkeeper Kealsie Robles compiled a clean sheet after completing the shutout and making one save on the day.
With the win, ODU claimed a berth to the BIG EAST Championships which will be held on ODU’s campus at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex on Friday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 8. The semifinal games will be held on Friday at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., while the BIG EAST Championship final will take place Sunday at 1:00 p.m.