NORFOLK, Va. - The Old Dominion women’s lacrosse team fell 11-6 against Elon on Saturday evening. Natalie Calandra-Ryan scored two goals for the Monarchs in the losing effort.
“It was tough to see us not be able to build on a strong start from last weekend,” said ODU head coach Theresa Walton. “I thought we had a great week of practice and preparation, very little of that transferred to game day. We could have done a much better job controlling our possessions offensively and get in a good rhythm.”
The Phoenix (2-0) began their home opener with an early goal by Anna Lee Vandiver just under the 14-minute mark off a free-position pass. Vandiver doubled her tally by finding herself at the arch for a free-position pass at the nine-and-a-half-minute mark to score the second goal of the game. ODU’s (1-1) Maria Snyder would score their first point off a free position pass at the seven-minute mark. Following suit Molly Heimerl would score her first collegiate goal with a pass from Jules Mills with just over four minutes left to end the first quarter.
Four minutes into the second quarter, Elon’s Danielle Swietoniowski would score off a free position shot, 4-2. To start the third, Phoenix’s Anna Hackett scored from the front right of the net with just under 13 minutes to go. In response, Calandra-Ryan would score her first of the game off an assist from Lydia Laney with 10 minutes left in the third. A goal by Elon’s MJ Santa Barbara would profit off an assist from Lizzie Scalzo at the nine-minute mark. A minute later Phoenix Lillian Austin would score from the front left. To end the quarter Swietoniowski would score her second with three minutes left.
In the final quarter of the game Vandiver would score her third goal off a free position shot with 11 minutes left. Calandra-Ryan would score her second of the game with 10 minutes left in the quarter. The Phoenix would answer two minutes later by Hackett for her second goal of the game, then again with five minutes left for the Phoenix final point. To close out the game ODU’s Kylie O’Donnell would score off an assist from Snyder to end the game in the Phoenix favor.
“Defensively we had to make some really difficult stops whether it was power play or even situations, proud of how this young group is getting in their groove. Overall, as a team, I’m glad we fought until the final whistle, now it’s onto the next for a big instate rivalry at home with VCU to kick off our home game slate.” said Walton.
The Monarchs return to Norfolk Feb. 21 to host the VCU Rams at 6 p.m. at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex in the season home opener.