NORFOLK, Va. -- Danielle Grega and Carrie Sensenig scored goals, but the Old Dominion field hockey team could not overcome a 2-0 halftime deficit and fell to No. 18 William & Mary, 3-2, on Sunday at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex.
The loss was Old Dominion's (6-8) first home loss since the 3-2 loss to then-No. 7 Penn State in the season opener on Aug. 25.
"Disappointing and frustrating," said head coach Andrew Griffiths about the loss. "We've been starting games pretty well, but, today, I don't think as a group we were ready to play. They're a good team, but we were tentative and slow to the ball in the first 15 minutes."
William & Mary (11-4) capitalized on the slow start for the Monarchs, scoring goals in the 11th and 15th minutes to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
The Monarchs responded in the second half, as Grega's penalty-corner goal in the 38th minute cut the lead in half. Less than four minutes later, Sensenig drilled in a corner for the equalizer in the 42nd minute.
"It was almost like it was two games," said Griffiths. "There was the first 15-20 minutes and then there was after their second goal when we started to build momentum into halftime. Then, in the second half, we dominated the game."
However, the Tribe's Booter Ellis scored a goal in the 47th minute on a penalty corner for what proved to be the game-winner.
The Monarchs staged a late rally and nearly tied the game in the 61st minute when Julia Demeester's diving attempt was swiped off the goal line by a Tribe defender.
Overall, the Monarchs outshot William & Mary, 14-9, including a 12-6 advantage in the second half. ODU also held a 9-6 edge in corners.
Individually, Cameran Nery-Strickland added to her team-leading assist total with two assists, while Julia Van Dorsten and Anouck Vandersteen also recorded assists. In goal, Lacey Frazier played the full 70 minutes and made one save.
"I think we had to use a lot of energy to come back from the 2-0 deficit," said Griffiths. "So, it made it hard for us to get the final push."
ODU is now 1-6 against ranked teams this season.
Up next, the Monarchs travel to Villanova next weekend for a Big East contest on Friday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m.
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