RICHMOND, Va. – Sophomore Riley Taylor scored two goals to lead the Old Dominion field hockey team (4-1) to a 2-0 road victory over VCU (2-3). The win was the Monarchs’ fourth in a row.
“I’m very proud of our team,” head coach Andrew Griffiths shared after the game. “Four games in eight days is a tough schedule, and they found a way to win again. VCU was very aggressive and they played a good game.”
Neither team’s offense could gain momentum in the first half of play, as the two teams combined for only four shots on goal, three from the Monarchs and one from the Rams. The Monarchs also had two penalty corner opportunities in the first 30 minutes that resulted in Rebecca Birch shots, but Rams goalkeeper Sasha Elliot saved both attempts.
Sophomore goalie Cam MacGillivray saved the only shot she faced in the first half, which came off the stick of Mackenzie Williams.
In the fourth quarter, the Monarchs broke the ice in the scoreless tie, as Taylor found the back of the net after taking a pass from freshman Alice Demars to put ODU ahead, 1-0. The assist was Demars’ first point of her collegiate career.
10 minutes later, Taylor provided some extra insurance for the Monarchs, as she deposited her second goal of the game, this one assisted by Birch. ODU would then hold on for the 2-0 victory.
“It took us most of the first quarter to get our legs going, but when we did, we played well,” Griffiths said of his team. “We moved the ball well and Riley scored two nice goals, getting herself in the right position and getting the rewards.”
Taylor scored her two goals on four total shots in the contest. MacGillivray earned her second shutout victory of the year, turning aside three shots in the effort.
Overall, the Monarchs outshot the Rams, 8-7, and held VCU to just one penalty corner.
The Monarchs’ next match will take place on Friday, September 20, when they travel to Rhode Island to face Providence for their first Big East Conference match of the season. The contest is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m.