NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion women’s soccer suffered its first defeat of the 2025 season on Sunday night against Liberty, 1-0 at the ODU Soccer Stadium.
"This is a tough one to take tonight as I felt we did enough to get something from the game,” said ODU Head Coach Angie Hind.
Liberty’s Ivy Garner found the back of the net in the 86th minute off an assist from Briana Myers’ set piece routine. ODU’s defenders in the box were a fraction off the mark and Garner had a free run to the near post, Myers played a short free kick and hit the oncoming runner in stride and Garner slotted to the bottom left of the net for the only goal of the game.
"They started stronger than us but in the second half I thought we really got a solid hold of the game, played most of it in their half and were pushing to get the breakthrough,” added Hind.
ODU’s Mia Serna had three shots in the final four minutes. The junior from Leesburg, Virginia rifled one from outside the box but sailed just over the goalie’s head and the post in the 87th, had a shot go off target in the 89th minute and had a shot blocked at the point of contact with 20 seconds left to play. A last-ditch throw-in was stymied by the Lady Flames and the clock ran out.
"They are a real quality side and I have huge respect for them as they are aggressive, organized and have a few special players,” said Hind. “We gave them one chance and they took it and that’s what good teams do.”
The Monarchs held a slight shooting advantage in the first half after taking three shots to Liberty’s two. ODU captain Gry Boe Thrysøe had the Monarchs first attempt at goal in the 18th minute but was saved by LU’s Ainsley Leja. The next chance for ODU came from a corner in the 30th minute but the cross did not find any free runners to take advantage. The next shot for the home team didn’t come until the 41st minute from substitute Madison Telmer who was off the mark and Sydney Somers also scuffed a shot wide of the target and both teams went into the halftime break at level pegging.
In the second half, ODU outshot the Lady Flames eight to four, with three of the away team's shots being taken in the first seven minutes of action. Two were blocked by ODU defenders and the third was saved by Erin Jones from Carly Keene. Old Dominion’s first shot of the final half was in the 59th from freshman forward Koto Davis but it was off the mark and did not force the opposing goalkeeper into making a save.
Riley Mullen, who was awarded Player of the Match, had two shots blocked in the 70th and the 76th. Yuliia Khrystiuk forced LU’s Leja into making a save in the 82nd minute and freshman forward Ashley Economopoulos had an attempt blocked 40 seconds later.
ODU’s Erin Jones played all 90 minutes in goal and made one save. LU’s Leja made two saves in 90 minutes of action. Freshman and native of Virginia Beach, Virginia Dylan McEntarfer made her first career start and played 90 minutes in the back line. Thrysøe, Ashlynn Kulha, and Katie McCormick all played a complete game.
"It’s our first loss of the year so of course we are hurting a bit but we will learn and get prepared quickly for a good Tech team on Thursday,” said Hind.
The Monarchs return to the ODU Soccer Stadium on Thursday, September 4th at 6 p.m. as Old Dominion take on another in-state foe. This time, it will be #24 Virginia Tech. The last time the Monarchs played a Top 25 ranked team, ODU came away with a 2-2 draw in enemy territory.