NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion field hockey team dropped its regular season finale to No. 4 Virginia, 4-2, on Senior Day at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex on Sunday.
On a rain-soaked afternoon, Virginia (15-3), who ranks second in the nation in scoring, scored four first-half goals, including two in the first eight minutes of play, to pull away from Old Dominion (8-9) early.
However, the Monarchs outscored the Cavaliers, 2-0, in the second half to cut the final deficit to 4-2.
"We didn't really show up in the first half and we put ourselves in a huge hole," said head coach Andrew Griffiths. "That's been the last couple of games, we've been a bit slow to start. Early in the season, that was a strength for us, so we need to turn that back around."
Trailing 4-0 entering the second half, Julia Demeester put the Monarchs on the board in the 56th minute, tapping in an Alexandria Brewer cross for her first goal of the season.
Erin Huffman then cut the lead to two with her team-leading 11th goal in the 66th minute. Overall, the Monarchs outshot the Cavaliers, 6-5, in the second half.
"We believed in ourselves a little bit more," said Griffiths' of the second half performance. "We played with some more conviction and energy and communicated better."
UVA held a 20-8 shot advantage for the game and also had five penalty corners to the Monarchs' three.
In goal for ODU, Lacey Frazier and Kealsie Robles combined for seven saves, as Robles played the entire second half and held the Cavaliers scoreless in her 35 minutes of play.
"The second half was better. Hopefully some things to build on," said Griffiths. "But at this point in the season, you have to be playing for the whole game. Otherwise, it is going to cost you."
For senior day, the trio of Danielle Grega, Julia Van Dorsten and Carrie Sensenig were all honored in a pregame ceremony for their contributions to the ODU field hockey program.
Up next, the Monarchs travel to Providence for the Big East Tournament next weekend. ODU, the No. 3 seed, takes on No. 2 seed Liberty in the first round on Friday.
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