NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion field hockey defeated Temple 3-2 in a hard-fought double overtime match with a game-winning goal by Serena Langendoen to secure a spot in the BIG EAST Conference Tournament.
A penalty corner pass from Perleth, and slotted in by Langendoen closed out the match 3-2 with the Monarchs clinching a spot in post season play.
The first quarter of the game was a slow start for both sides of the pitch with ODU (6-7, 4-1 BIG EAST) getting the first penalty corner of the game with Madison Zalewski passing it to Sanci Molkenboer but her shot was saved by Temple’s (10-4, 2-3 BIG EAST) Alex Lepore. The save was followed by another later in the quarter with a shot by Sian Emslie which Lepore was able to recover and save. A high shot by Amelie Zielcke off of a penalty corner pass from Cosima Perleth, and a shot by Josie Painter saved by Lepore sent the game into the second quarter with the Monarchs outshooting the Owls 5-1.
The Owls opened the second with a penalty corner pass by Mara Lenting to Marsha Ariesen, blocked by the ODU defense. A second attempt off the blocked shot by Agustina Tucceri gave the Owls the first goal of the game in the second minute of the match putting Temple up 1-0 in the second quarter. Lucia Magro shot high then saved by ODU goalkeeper Suus Broers to be followed by a blocked shot by Riley Gallagher to send the game into halftime with the Owls up by one.
After the break, a slow third quarter prompted green cards on Temple’s Agustina Tucceri and Mathea Lassalle and a shot by Tucceri saved by Broers, sending the match into the final quarter.
Two back-to-back ODU penalty corners opened the fourth quarter, one going wide by Zielcke, but then she was able to get past Lepore to tie the match 1-1 in the first three periods of the period. A defensive foul on ODU caused a penalty stroke for Magro who was able to find the net for Temple and retake the lead 2-1 with five minutes left. Not a minute later, Avery Jackson had a wide open shot, scored another for the Monarchs forcing the game into overtime.
Neither team scored in the first 10 minutes of overtime, forcing another a second overtime period. A penalty corner for Temple sent in by Lenting was passed to Tucceri which was then blocked by the ODU defense forcing the ball outside of the circle. A penalty corner pass from Perleth, and slotted in by Langendoen closed out the match 3-2 with the Monarchs clinching a spot in post season play.
"It's a significant achievement to qualify for the Big East tournament with two games left in our schedule. Our team has earned it with grit and persistence. It is a reward for the hard work the team has been putting in through the season.
The players showed toughness, coming back twice to tie the game. I’m proud of them and how they kept battling. And under fatigue, to find a way to get it done is important and can give us some confidence in the last 2 weeks of the regular season and beyond". Said Head Coach Andrew Griffiths
The Monarchs recorded nine shots, seven on goal, and five penalty corners. The Owls registered 10 shots, five on goal, and four corners. ODU keeper Broers recorded three saves, while Lepore registered four.
UP NEXT:
The Monarchs travel to Newark, Delaware on Sunday, October 19 to face the Blue Hens. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.