LAFAYETTE, La. - Old Dominion women’s soccer fell, 2-1 against Louisiana in enemy territory on Friday night at the Home Bank Soccer & Track Complex.
“Tough place to play and I thought Louisiana made full advantage of their home field,” said ODU head coach Angie Hind. “They were tough, aggressive and just didn’t give us a minute all night and they got the just reward.”
The Monarchs (8-2-4, 3-1-3 SBC) had the first shot of the game 10 minutes after kickoff from Gry Boe Thrysoe. Her shot was saved by ULL’s (6-5-4, 3-2-3 SBC) Natalie Mayes to thwart ODU’s fast start. Louisiana’s Miku Kurihara opened the scoring in the 20th minute from a solo effort and a shot that went to the top center of the goal. Eight minutes later, Andrea Balcazar Algarin would attempt to equalize and was denied by Myers. Freshman defender Dylan McEntarfer would have the Monarchs’ final opportunity at an equalizer in the first half. In the 41st minute, she got a shot from a corner kick. Her attempt was saved by Myers and a follow-up effort by Thrysoe was blocked by ULL’s defenders.
Old Dominion responded quickly after the break and evened the score in the 50th minute. Koto Davis hit the back of the net with a shot to the top right of the goal, Hannah Morgan was credited with an assist on the play, and the game was back on. Morgan would have a chance to snag the lead three minutes later, but her shot was off the mark. Louisiana found the game-winning goal from Carson Glenn in the 64th minute with a shot that went towards the top left of the net thanks to an assist by Sophia Moore.
Old Dominion would register its final shot on target in the 78th minute from freshman forward Ashley Economopoulos but Mayes stopped the shot heading toward the roof of the net. Economopoulos would have another crack at the apple two minutes later, but the attempt was stifled by ULL defenders. Salma Elhaimer tried to put the game to bed in the 86th but Erin Jones made the save, keeping the Monarch deficit to one goal. Mia Serna had an attempt go off target in the 88th and the Monarchs’ last shot of the game came from Sydney Somers with 14 seconds remaining, but it didn’t threaten the keeper.
“We had spells late in the first half and early second, but as the game went on it became more difficult to break them down,” added Hind. “To come from behind twice was too much for us tonight against a good Louisiana team.”
ODU outshot the Ragin Cajuns 10-to-4 and 5-to-3 in attempts on goal. Old Dominion finished with seven corners to ULL’s nil. Balcazar, Ashlynn Kulha, Katie McCormick, and Thrysoe all played a complete game. Economopoulos and Thrysoe each had two shots and one shot on goal.
UP NEXT:
Old Dominion returns to the ODU Soccer Complex for Senior Night on Friday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. when the Monarchs meet Arkansas State.