RICHMOND, Va. – Old Dominion lacrosse proved to be too much for VCU in the season opener as the Lady Monarchs won 10-7. Cydney Tutchton led the Lady Monarchs with three goals and an assist, while Morgan Marrale had a team-high three assists. ODU starts 1-0 on the season while VCU moves to 0-1.
Maggi Buckley recorded nine saves on 21 shots giving up seven goals to improve to 1-0 in the net. VCU’s Ria Peralta allowed 10 goals in the loss and tallied 12 saves in 22 shots on goal.
VCU opened the scoring on a man-up goal by Molly Barcikowski at the 5th minute of the first half on the assist from Keriann McTavish. Cydney Tutchton evened the score with an unassisted free position shot a minute later. Barcikowski put VCU in the lead in the 11th minute of action after she connected with McTavish for her second assist of the game.
Sophia Richie scored her first of two goals at 19:26 on the clock from Morgan Marrale to tie up the game. VCU scored two goals from Sky Hyatt and Sofia Edmond to go up 4-2 before Richie pulled the Lady Monarchs within one.
Marrale evened up the match on a goal in the 28th minute and a Tutchton goal with 24 seconds left in the half gave the Lady Monarchs their first lead of the afternoon, which they would never relinquish.
VCU scored first in the second half to tie the game on a man-up goal by McTavish with the assist from Hyatt. Colby Muller scored back-to-back goals for Old Dominion in the span of 35 seconds to go up 7-5 over VCU.
The Rams Isabelle Evans-Riester scored to pull within one but the Lady Monarchs increased their lead to as many as four goals after Connor Carson, Tutchton and Megan Topper all scored for the Silver and Blue.
Nicole Morris tacked on the finale goal for VCU with 2:17 remaining in regulation bring the score to 10-7 en route to an ODU victory.
Tutchton led with three goals while Richie and Muller scored two apiece. Topper, Carson and Marrale all add solo goals on the day.
The Lady Monarchs travel to Buies Creek, N.C. on Saturday, Feb. 18, for a matchup against the Fighting Camels of Campbell University at 12 p.m.