RICHMOND, Va. - Old Dominion women’s soccer heads back to Norfolk with a 2-1 win against in-state foe VCU at the Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond, Va. on Saturday night.
“As always this was a tough game for us tonight against VCU,” said ODU Head Coach Angie Hind. “We always have real competitive games against each other and tonight was no different.”
Riley Mullen opened the scoring in the 6th minute thanks to an assist from Katie Lutz from the right wing. Thirteen minutes later, Mullen was again on the receiving end, this time from a Yuliia Khrystiuk incisive pass that cut through the Rams’ defense, and she slotted it into the top right of the goal, 2-0. VCU’s Vivian Vendt cut the home team’s deficit to one goal after converting a corner kick attempt sent in by Jensyn Lins.
“We started great and scored two goals early on and to be honest we should really have closed the game with the chances we had in the first half,” added Hind. “That’s something we have to improve because we didn’t take them and then we let them back in the game.”
ODU took 12 shots in the first half and had seven shots on goal forcing the VCU’s goalkeeper Mia Pongratz into making five saves to not let the score get out of hand. VCU had half the number of shots (6) and put four shots on goal which forced ODU’s Ellie Goodrich to make two saves.
The second half is where the game seemed to settle down. ODU held the Rams to one shot in the entire half, and the Monarchs had seven attempts to try and extend the lead. Neither team could find a goal to change the complexion of the game and the Monarchs’ defense were tight knit to secure an ODU win, 2-1.
“Second half we did some really good things and again created some real good chances but just failed to put them away,” said Hind.
The Monarchs had a 19-7 advantage in the shot column and a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal. VCU had four corners to the Monarchs’ two. VCU’s Pongratz made seven saves on the night and ODU’s Goodrich made three in 90 minutes of action.
Gry Boe Thrysoe, Dylan McEntarfer, and Ashlynn Kulha played the entire game. VCU’s Ava Pustover, Y-Van Nguyen, Jordyn Hall, and Stella Castro did not exit the game once for the Rams.
“Delighted with the win and the final week of non-conference so we recover now and prepare for the start of conference play,” said Hind.
UP NEXT:
ODU women’s soccer returns to the ODU Soccer Stadium for the beginning of Sun Belt Conference play against App State on Saturday, September 13 at 6 p.m.