NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion women’s soccer head coach Will Roberts secured his first official win for the Silver and Blue on Sunday evening against Longwood at the ODU Soccer Complex, 3-0.
“Proud of how the group responded today,” said Roberts. “We faced a good Longwood team, which is very impressive in the way they press and I’m sure will go on to have a successful season. But the girls today stuck to the game plan and executed it. It’s always nice to get the first win out the way early, and we managed to use the depth of our squad today which is key playing twice a week. We have a big week to prepare for, and plenty to work on.”
Old Dominion (1-1) opened the scoring in the 18th minute when fifth-year Ally Richardson delivered a free kick from near the center circle. She lofted a shot towards the middle of the box and LU's goalkeeper, Brynn Clagett misjudged the ball as it found the back of the net for ODU to go up, 1-0.
Sydney Somers, a fourth-year defender and Littleton, Colorado native, gave ODU an insurance goal only six minutes later. She corralled a Longwood (0-2) clearance about five yards outside the right-hand top of the box and hit a looping, perfect shot that found the far left-hand top corner of the goal, 2-0.
Old Dominion went into the break with a 2-0 lead after registering five shots and forcing LU’s Clagett into making two saves. The Lancers chopped and changed their goalie at the start of the second 45 as Lexie Miller donned the gloves for the remainder of the game.
The Silver and Blue found their third and final goal of their home opener from Hannah Morgan in the 66th minute. Riley Mullen earned an assist after darting through the Lancers’ final line of defense to draw a two-on-one attack in front of goal. Mullen fired towards net, but LU’s Miller made the save, but she could not contain the shot, and Morgan was there to clean up the mess and give ODU a 3-0 advantage.
ODU took six shots in the final 45 to total 11 throughout the 90 minutes, including seven on target. Old Dominion fourth-year goalkeeper Ellie Goodrich played the full 90 minutes, made one save, and secured the clean sheet. Longwood’s goalkeeping union mustered four saves and the Lancers’ outfield players took three total shots. Both teams had exactly three corner kicks apiece. ODU defenders Dylan McEntarfer and Kulha both logged 90 minutes on the pitch.
UP NEXT:
Old Dominion heads out on the road for back-to-back away games. ODU takes on UNCW on Thursday, August 20 at 6 p.m. and travels to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for a meeting with Wake Forest on Sunday, August 23rd at 1 p.m.