NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion field hockey team turned in a dominant performance with a 4-0 victory over Big East foe Temple on Friday afternoon at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex.
Four different Monarchs scored goals, as Old Dominion (5-7, 2-2 Big East) outshot Temple (3-8, 0-4 Big East) by a margin of 15-3 and also held a 14-3 advantage in penalty corners.
"We started really strong and came out of the gate well," said head coach Andrew Griffiths. "I think the difference today was that we were able to sustain it and keep the good play up for most of the game."
Rebecca Birch's penalty-corner goal in the fifth minute headlined the quick start for ODU. The 1-0 lead carried into halftime, despite the Monarchs outshooting Temple, 8-1, in the first half. ODU has now outscored its opponents, 17-11, in the first half of games this season.
In the second half, Carrie Sensenig quickly doubled the lead for ODU, converting on a penalty corner in the 40th minute. Julia Van Dorsten and Cameran Nery-Strickland recorded assists on both of the first two goals.
"I think that goal was a good push for us to get going," said Sensenig. "Then, we ended up getting four goals, which was awesome."
The Monarchs then added a pair of insurance goals less than two minutes apart, as Alexa Ostoich knocked in a pass from Danielle Grega in the 49th minute, before Erin Huffman recorded her team-leading eighth goal in the 50th minute to round out the scoring.
Goalkeeper Lacey Frazier earned the shutout in net, playing the full 70 minutes and making two saves.
"Whenever we had any kind of letdown, we were able to get back on top of it," said Griffiths. "I told the team afterwards that this is a good payment for the work that they have put in, in terms of playing for 70 minutes."
ODU remains at home for a pair of matches next week. The Monarchs host Quinnipiac on Friday, before taking on No. 18 William & Mary on Sunday.
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