FOLEY, Ala. -- Carla Morich recorded a hat trick and earned Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors as Old Dominion knocked off James Madison 4-3 in double overtime to win the 2022 Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, Old Dominion (9-8-3) advances to the NCAA Tournament with the automatic bid. They'll learn their destination on Monday afternoon as the selection show will be streamed at 4 pm.
"What a game. Really, it was such a fantastic spectacle for women's soccer in this conference. Two very good teams playing some great soccer," said ODU head coach Angie Hind. "We got out the gates so well and scored two early goals in great style. Then we had to deal with the adversity of JMU being awarded not one but two PK's."
Morich earned her hat trick in the 106th minute from just inside the box as a blast went through several players and into the back of the net for the eventual game winner.
The Monarchs got on the board quickly, 38 seconds into the match Morich snared a rebound shot by Megan Watts and put it into the lower right corner for an early 1-0 lead. Watts doubled the advantage in the 12th minute with a breakaway that found the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
James Madison got on the board on by a penalty kick from Hannah Young in the 43rd minute to trim the lead to 2-1.
This team has grown all season in belief, confidence and trust and today exemplified all those qualities today when it mattered most," Hind said. "The goals we scored were quality, the desire to comeback and find a way to win the game was simply immense."
In the second half, the Monarchs got back on the scoring run as Morich took a feed from Andrea Balcazar Algarin and blasted it into the upper corner for a 3-1 lead in the 47th minute.
JMU answered with a pair of goals to tie the match, Amanda Attanasi scored 80 seconds later and then Sophia Verrecchia added another penalty kick in the 58th minute to level the match at three.
"I can't speak highly enough of this young group, and we are so proud to pick up ODU's first Sun Belt Conference championship. What this group did today winning back-to-back championships in two different conferences is incredible," said Hind. "We will enjoy this moment together and be excited to see what comes next with the NCAA draw"
Earning All-Tournament honors included Morich, who was named Tournament Most Outstanding Player, along with Anna Tørsløv, Ece Turkoglu, Riley Kennett and Balcazar Algarin.
Women's Soccer Captures 2022 Sun Belt Conference Crown With 4-3 2OT win over JMU
