NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University field hockey head coach Andrew Griffiths announced today the complete schedule for the upcoming 2021 season. The Monarchs are set to play 17 regular season contests, including eight matches against in-state opposition and three against NCAA Tournament participants.
"We are all looking forward to getting back to a normal fall schedule this year," Griffiths said. "Having just finished playing a season in the spring, our team is eager to play again and take the next step and win a championship."
The season kicks off on Friday, Aug. 27 with an afternoon match against Delaware at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex. The Blue Hens are coming off their 14th NCAA Tournament appearance this past spring after winning the CAA Tournament and finished the year ranked 20th in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll. In total, the Monarchs will square off against six opponents who finished last season ranked inside the top-20.
The opening weekend continues on Aug. 29, when ODU hosts American.
Old Dominion then faces three-consecutive in-state opponents, starting with a road match at James Madison on Sept. 3. The Dukes were the regular season CAA champions and fell in the tournament finals. The Monarchs then return home for a Sept. 10 clash with Longwood before facing VCU, the reigning Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament champions and another team ranked (No. 17) in the final coaches poll.
The Monarchs kick off play in the BIG EAST the following week with a road match at UConn on Sept. 17. The Huskies are the nine-time reigning BIG EAST Tournament champions, and the two sides have squared off in the tournament final each of the past two seasons.
Sept. 24 sees ODU host its first conference game of the season when Quinnipiac comes to town. Two days later, the Monarchs travel to Virginia for the first of two matches with the Cavaliers, a squad that ended last year ranked No. 14.
Following an Oct. 1 road match with BIG EAST rival Villanova, the Monarchs play host to Richmond on Oct. 3. ODU then welcomes Georgetown for a conference match on Oct. 8 before traveling to Duke, yet another top-20 team last season, on Oct. 10.
The Monarchs enter the closing stretch of the season at Providence on Oct. 15. ODU then hosts Virginia on Oct. 17, Temple on Oct. 22 and William & Mary on Oct. 24 for its longest homestand of the year.
The regular season concludes at Liberty on Oct. 29. The Monarchs and Flames played five times during the spring season. ODU knocked off then-No. 4 Liberty 2-1 at home on March 26 for the program's first top-five victory since 2015. Nearly a month later, the Monarchs bested the Flames once again in the BIG EAST semifinals.
The BIG EAST Tournament runs Nov. 5-7 at UConn in Storrs, Connecticut. Old Dominion is angling for a third-consecutive appearance in the conference tournament final.
"We have a challenging schedule again, and I am confident that our squad is strong and ready to attack the season," Griffiths said. "We play a number of top-20 teams on our schedule, and our conference is also growing stronger. We are excited for August 10 to have the whole team here. We are ready to work extremely hard together and ready for the season's journey!"
2021 Old Dominion Field Hockey Schedule
Friday, Aug. 27 vs. Delaware – 1 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 29 vs. American – Noon
Friday, Sept. 3 at James Madison – 5 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 10 vs. Longwood – 5 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 12 at VCU – 1 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 17 at UConn* – 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24 vs. Quinnipiac* – 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 26 at Virginia – 1 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 1 at Villanova* – 3 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 3 vs. Richmond – Noon
Friday, Oct. 8 vs. Georgetown* – 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 10 at Duke – Noon
Friday, Oct. 15 at Providence* – 2 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 17 vs. Virginia – 1 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 22 vs. Temple* – 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 24 vs. William & Mary – 1 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 29 at Liberty* – 3 p.m.
Nov. 5-7: BIG EAST Championships
Home matches in bold
*Indicates BIG EAST match
All times Eastern and subject to change
BIG EAST Championships to be held in Storrs, Conn.
Griffiths Releases 2021 Field Hockey Schedule
