PHILADELPHIA – A fourth quarter goal from Lotte Haagmans put No. 3 seed Old Dominion field hockey over the defending champions, No. 2 seed Liberty, 1-0 on Friday to help the Monarchs reach the BIG EAST Championship title game for the first time since 2023. This is Liberty’s first shutout of the season.
“That was a great team win, as a result of great team effort,” Head Coach Andrew Griffiths said. “I’m proud of this team and the way they played this evening. Liberty has very talented players. But we played with no fear, we attacked the game full speed without hesitation, defensively and offensively. Lotte scored a beautiful penalty corner goal.”
ODU found the opening goal midway through the fourth quarter to take a 1-0 lead. The Monarchs were awarded a penalty corner, and Madison Zalewski provided a well taken delivery to the stick of Nicolette Saccomandi. The Thorton, Pennsylvania native who was playing 40 minutes from her hometown, settled the pass for Serena Langendoen to fire. But the team’s leading scorer played a misdirect to Haagmans in front of the goal who slotted her shot past Liberty’s goalkeeper Diane St. Martin for her 10th goal of the season and the game-winning goal.
Old Dominion (14-4) collected three corners in the first quarter, all coming in the last three minutes of play, but were unable to get on the board. It wasn’t until nine minutes into the second quarter that Liberty (12-6) was awarded their first corner, but the shots were blocked. ODU had a chance to go into halftime up one with two seconds left, however the penalty corner was denied, keeping the game scoreless.
The Flames took over the third quarter with four penalty corners, including two within the first three minutes, though both teams remained scoreless. With under ten minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Haagmans scored off a penalty corner with help from Langendoen and Saccomandi. Liberty pulled Saint Martin with under four minutes remaining, but were unable to score despite two late corners, keeping Old Dominion’s season alive.
Liberty outshot ODU, 19-8, as well as corners by collecting seven to the Monarch’s five. However, ODU had 16 fouls to Liberty’s 36.
Haagmans led the way in scoring for Old Dominion with one goal, while Langendoen and Saccomandi had one assist each. Langendoen, who was named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday, also had a team-high four shots, including three shots on goal.
Goalkeeper Suus Broers recorded her third shutout of the season and matched her season high seven saves.
“We had to withstand some pressure in the last six to seven minutes, but Suus was extremely sharp in goal for us, and our defensive corner unit was rock solid,” Griffiths said. “We can’t wait to take on Connecticut on Sunday!”
UP NEXT
Old Dominion challenges top-seeded UConn on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. at the Temple Sports Complex.