FOLEY, ALA. - Old Dominion women’s soccer slotted four goals past the Panthers in the Quarterfinal of the Sun Belt Conference Championship on Monday afternoon. The Monarchs will take on ULM in the Semifinal on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
“Obviously we are really pleased with the result today but it did take us a little time to settle into the game and I thought initially Georgia State had a hold on the play,” said ODU head coach Angie Hind.
Old Dominion (11-2-4) got ahead early in the game, the Monarchs scored on their first corner kick of the afternoon. Yuliia Khrystiuk provided the high arching delivery in the 15th minute and GSU’s (9-8-2) Ariana Anderson could not hold on to the cross as it seemed to cross the goal line. After a short VAR review the goal was given.
“No doubt the goal settled us and I thought we grew into the game,” said Hind. “We scored some really good goals today and what a team performance. That’s so pleasing especially in tournament play where depth can be a factor.”
The Monarchs got an insurance goal with two minutes remaining in the opening half. Graduate student midfielder Gry Boe Thrysoe scored thanks to a double-assist by Riley Mullen and Brooke Edwards.
ODU found its third goal of the Quarterfinal from Brooke Edwards. Koto Davis found her at the edge of midfield with a looping header. Edwards warded off her defender and started driving towards the Panther goal. She fired a great strike towards the bottom right hand corner and past GSU’s new goalkeeper Alondra Iriarte to put ODU up by three goals to nil.
Laura Klebek applied the finishing touches in the 86th minute when Iriarte went to claim a back pass and fumbled. Klebek claimed the loose ball and slotted it into the back of the net to go up, 4-0.
The Monarchs outshot the Panthers 16-6 and 6-2 in shots on target. ODU had two corners to GSU’s zero. ODU was able to rotate their squad after grabbing a 3-0 lead and no Monarch outside of Ellie Goodrich logged a complete 90 minutes on the pitch. ODU had four different goalscorers. Mullen, Edwards, and Davis all registered assists. Klebek scored her first goal of the season.
Goodrich made two saves and kept a clean sheet in the win. GSU’ Iriarte and Anderson each played 45 minutes. Iriarte made two saves.
“We recover now as it’s a quick turnaround before the semis on Wednesday,” said Hind.
UP NEXT:
The Monarchs play the ULM Warhawks on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 5 p.m. at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex.