UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The No. 20 Old Dominion field hockey team is set to begin the 2016 season with a nationally ranked showdown against No. 18 Penn State on Friday, Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. before traveling to Washington, D.C. to take on American at noon on Sunday, Aug. 28.
Fourth-year head coach Andrew Griffiths and the Lady Monarchs enter Friday’s opener returning 12 players from last year’s squad that went 9-10 and defeated five top 20 teams. Among ODU’s key returners are: Preseason All-BIG EAST selection Megan Byas, BIG EAST Rookie of the Year Chrissy Horn, 2015 leading scorer Danielle Grega and Longstreth/NFHCA All-Region goalkeeper Kealsie Robles.
Led by Charlene Morett-Curtiss in her 29th season as head coach, the No. 18 Penn State Nittany Lions enter Friday’s matchup after going 9-10 and 4-4 in the Big Ten in 2015. Penn State boasts three Big Ten Players to Watch including Kirsten Gochnauer, Aurelia Meijer and Jenny Rizzo. Meijer was a first team All-Big Ten selection last season.
In the last meeting between these two teams, ODU earned a 2-1 victory over the Nittany Lions on Aug. 28, 2015 in Norfolk.
On Sunday, ODU will visit American for a noon matchup in Washington, D.C. The Eagles enter the 2016 season after compiling a 12-7 record last season and a 5-1 mark in the Patriot League. American is led by NFHCA All-Mid Atlantic Region honorees Rafela Rubas and Natalie Konerth and received votes in the Penn Monto/NFHCA Preseason Poll this week.
Last season, American defeated ODU 3-2 on August 30 in Norfolk.
Coverage
A free live stream of Friday’s game against Penn State is available and live stats will also be provided here.
Sunday’s game versus American can be followed live via the stat tracker.
Social Media
Follow Old Dominion Field Hockey on Twitter at twitter.com/ODUFieldHockey and find them on Facebook at facebook.com/ODUFH!