NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion field hockey head coach Andrew Griffiths has added a total of seven newcomers, including two transfers to the Monarchs roster for the 2021 season. Alix Marien, Aubrey Mytych, Arden Patterson, Meghan Smart, Kelly Taylor, Payton Wilson and Frederique Zandbergen are the program's newest members.
MEET THE NEWEST MONARCHS
ALIX MARIEN
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Kapellen, Belgium
High School: Gemeentelijk Instituut Brasschaat
Position: Midfield
Marien helped lead her U14 and U16 teams to championships back home in Belgium.
AUBREY MYTYCH
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Wyoming, Pa.
High School: Wyoming Seminary Prep
Previous School: Penn State
Position: Forward
As a freshman at Penn State, Mytych had her first career assist in a game against Old Dominion.
ARDEN PATTERSON
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pa.
High School: Mechanicsburg Area Senior
Position: Forward
Patterson was a four-year varsity letterman in high school and twice led the team in scoring for the season.
MEGHAN SMART
Year: Senior
Hometown: Haddonfield, N.J.
High School: Haddonfield Memorial
Previous School: App State
Position: Forward
Last season at App State, Smart was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Mountaineer in program history to receive a Player of the Year honor. Nationally, Smart was ranked 15th in goals per game and 19th in points per contest. She ended her App State career tied for 10th all-time with 26 goals scored.
KELLY TAYLOR
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.
High School: First Colonial
Position: Midfield/Back
Kelly is the younger sister of Riley Taylor, who is currently a senior on the Monarchs roster. Taylor was first team all-region in 2018 and All-Tidewater second team in 2019 and 2021.
PAYTON WILSON
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Chesapeake, Va.
High School: Great Bridge
Position: Forward
Wilson was a two-time state champion at Great Bridge. She also participated in Junior Olympics from 2018-19 and won a silver medal.
FREDERIQUE ZANDBERGEN
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Tilburg, Netherlands
High School: Theresialyceum
Position: Midfield
Zandbergen played for HC Tilburg and was named Player of the Tournament in the 2018 International Challenge Cup.
Old Dominion will commence the season by hosting Delaware on August 27 at 1:00 p.m. at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex.
A Closer Look: Meet the Seven Field Hockey Newcomers
