NORFOLK, Va. -- The 13th-ranked Old Dominion field hockey team (4-1, 0-0 BIG EAST) will open up conference play this Friday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. when the Lady Monarchs host No. 5 Connecticut (5-0, 0-0 BIG EAST) at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex. ODU will return to the field on Sunday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. for a home game against former CAA rival James Madison.
Old Dominion enters the weekend's matchups on a four-game winning streak after notching victories over in-state rivals Richmond, 3-1, and William & Mary, 2-1, last weekend. Five separate ODU players scored goals, as Chrissy Horn, Danielle Grega, Megan Byas, Erin Huffman and Casey Dolan each found the back of the net to help propel the Lady Monarchs.
Goalkeeper Kealsie Robles earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week after racking up nine total saves on the weekend while rookie Erin Huffman was honored as the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week after scoring her third goal of the season in the win over William & Mary Sunday. Senior Casey Dolan was also honored on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll after scoring her second game winning goal of the seaosn against the Tribe.
In the rankings this week, ODU moved up two slots to No. 13 and is the second-highest ranked BIG EAST team behind only No. 5 UConn.
The 2015 NCAA semifinalist and fifth-ranked Connecticut Huskies enter Friday's game with a 5-0, 0-0 (BIG EAST) record. The Huskies are coming off a 4-0 win over Harvard on Sunday and a 2-1 victory over UMass last Friday.
Amanda Collins and Casey Umstead lead Connecticut with five goals apiece while Charlotte Veitner leads the team in assists with four. Collins was honored as the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 5 and Sept. 12.
James Madison (3-2, 0-0 CAA) comes to Norfolk Sunday after dropping back-to-back games against No. 2 Duke, 7-1, and American, 2-1, last weekend. The Dukes are led by Miranda Rigg, who has notched four goals on the season, and Hannah Hall, who has found the net three times while also adding two assists.
Up Next
ODU hits the road to take on Georgetown next Friday, Sept. 23 at 1 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
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