LYNCHBURG, Va. - Old Dominion women’s soccer fell to Liberty, 2-1 on Sunday afternoon in Lynchburg, Virginia at Osborne Stadium.
“Non-Conference is over and now we shift our attention to the Sun Belt,” said ODU head coach Will Roberts. “We know what is required from us and what we need to change. We’ve nearly got our entire team healthy again for the first time this season going into next week. I think we’re ready for a new challenge after this non-conference schedule, but we need to see a reaction next week in our conference opener.”
The Flames (7-2-1) opened the scoring in the first minute at the 59 second mark to take a 1-0 lead. Fifth year forward Halle Engle was put through on goal by fourth year forward Avenly Monteith and drove the ball into the box. She used her left foot to shoot across her body and edge the ball past ODU’s (2-5) fourth year goalkeeper Emily Earles and into the back of the net.
The Monarchs would have a shot on target to potentially equalize in the 30th minute. ODU’s fourth year defender Sydney Somers was first to bounce on a loose ball near midfield and found second year forward Ashley Economopoulos at the edge of the final third. She played first year defender Alaina Subong into the box with a through ball but LU’s goalkeeper Grace Workman slid in to clear the threat.
A minute later, ODU’s fourth year defender Libby Holmes received the ball a few yards inside the midway line and launched a cross towards the top of the box. Fourth year midfielder Laura Klebek battled with an LU defender but won the header and generated good power on her attempt. But, the effort fell right into the hands of Workman as ODU entered the halftime break down, 1-0.
ODU was outshot by the Flames, 6-2 in the first 45 minutes, Earles made one save, and ODU held a 2-0 advantage in corner kick attempts over Liberty.
The Monarchs immediately responded in the second half. ODU earned a penalty kick after Liberty’s Sallie Garner clattered into first year forward Reese Kulha while in the box and not playing the ball. The Silver and Blue’s leading goalscorer this season, third year forward Hannah Morgan, stepped up to take the spot kick and smashed it into the far left corner of the net to level the game at 1-1.
Liberty would score their second goal of the night against the run of play in the 71st. ODU dominated the possession for the 25 minutes after halftime but first year midfielder Audrey Heustis lobbed a through ball over the top of the Monarchs’ defense onto first year forward Izzie Smulik. Smulik fired from outside the box and caught ODU’s goalkeeper Ellie Goodrich off her line to take a 2-1 lead.
ODU’s final shot on target of the afternoon came in the 73rd minute. Morgan was fouled in the air about 10 yards outside the box and Klebek stepped up to take the free kick. She put her shot on target, but it did not trouble LU’s third goalkeeper of the game Ainsley Leja. Morgan had a chance to score her second goal of the game in the 85th with ODU’s final shot but the attempt was stymied away from danger by a Liberty defender.
The Monarchs ended the game with 12 shots to the Flames’ 11. ODU fired 10 shots in the second half to finish the game with a +1-advantage. ODU defenders Dylan McEntarfer and Ashlynn Kulha both played 90 minutes and Reese Kulha and Holmes both made their first start for the Silver and Blue.
ODU’s Earles played the first 45 minutes but was subbed off at the break for Goodrich. Liberty played three goalkeepers for approximately 30 minutes each. Workman, Leja, and Peyton Huber each made an appearance for the Flames. Goodrich made two saves in 45 minutes and conceded one goal while Earles made one save and conceded one goal.
UP NEXT:
ODU opens its Sun Belt Conference action at ODU head coach Will Roberts’ former team, ULM. The Monarchs face the Warhawks on Friday, September 18 at 8 p.m.