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De Bruijne’s Three Goals Carry Field Hockey Past Villanova, 4-1

De Bruijne’s Three Goals Carry Field Hockey Past Villanova, 4-1De Bruijne’s Three Goals Carry Field Hockey Past Villanova, 4-1
Keith Lucas


NORFOLK, Va. – Freshman Marlon de Bruijne set a new career high with three goals as the Old Dominion field hockey team (3-1, 3-0 BIG EAST) ran past Villanova (0-3, 0-3 BIG EAST) at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex on Friday afternoon. De Bruijne is the first Monarch to notch a hat trick since Rebecca Birch scored three against Providence on Sept. 14, 2018 and the first freshman with a hat trick since at least the 2010 season.
 
"There were some good things overall," head coach Andrew Griffiths said. "Structurally, we played well. There were a couple of things that are going to be important to improve on as we grow, but overall, I am pleased."
 
Old Dominion's 3-0 start to BIG EAST play is its best since joining the conference in 2013. Dating back to the 2019 season, the Monarchs have won their last eight BIG EAST matches.
 
The Monarchs enjoyed the majority of possession and played in the attacking half for large swathes of the match. ODU outshot the Wildcats 23-8 and boasted an 11-4 edge in shots on target. Additionally, Old Dominion was awarded 14 penalty corners to the visitor's three.
 
ODU needed just under six minutes to score the first goal of the game. The Monarchs earned a penalty corner, and the tandem of Riley Taylor and Marlee McClendon teed up de Bruijne for the Dutch forward's third goal off a direct corner strike this season.
 
Old Dominion continued an impressive trend of scoring first in all four of its games this season.
 
The lead was short lived as the Wildcats scored three minutes later following their own penalty corner. Riley Dolan picked out Sabine de Ruijter with a cutting pass across the circle for the score.
 
The Monarchs broke the deadlock five-and-a-half minutes from the intermission. Advancing down the right wing, Evelyn Murray found de Bruijne in space outside the VU circle. De Bruijne collected the pass, walked into the circle and beat Wildcats' goalkeeper Claire Borman at the left post. The assist was the first in Murray's career.
 
"We took advantage of some opportunities on the press, which was good," Griffiths said. "Marlon took a couple of really nice goalscoring opportunities in open play as well as hitting a corner."
 
Villanova threatened in the closing minutes of the half, but two saves in quick succession from Cam MacGillivray kept the score at 2-1.
 
ODU placed the Wildcats under siege to start to third quarter. Chasing a third goal, the Monarchs fired off 10 shots in the period and took seven penalty corners. Old Dominion's sixth corner of the quarter produced its third goal of the day. Delphine Le Jeune's shot drew a save from Jordan McGinley, but the rebound fell to Taylor for the junior forward's third goal of the season.
 
Not content to sit on its 3-1 advantage, ODU continued taking the match to Villanova in the fourth quarter. The pressure told in the 54th minute, when de Bruijne completed her hat trick with a tight-angled backhand shot from near the left backline.
 
"The consistency is what is important to us," Griffiths said. "We have to play. We're a young team. We have to establish the confidence to play for 60 minutes consistently at a high level. 2-1 is not a safe lead. 3-1 is not a safe lead. It was nice to get a couple of goals ahead, but we have to keep playing consistently and pushing to the end in every game."
 
MacGillivray earned her third win of the season after making three saves in 55:50 of action. Fiona Minter closed out the match in goal for the Monarchs, marking her first competitive action with ODU.
 
McGinley played all of the second half in goal for the Wildcats, making six saves.
 
The Monarchs wrap up a five-match homestand tomorrow with a 4 p.m. tilt with Villanova.