FOLEY, Ala. - ODU scored a program record five goals for the first time in the Sun Belt Conference Championships to earn a 5-1 win over #7 Marshall on Monday afternoon in Foley, Alabama at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex.
“Proud of the group tonight,” said ODU Head Coach Will Roberts. “Going down a goal sparked something in them and they showed fantastic mentality to get back to what has made us successful this season. It was fun to watch them compete and make a statement. Our focus will now turn to App State.”
Old Dominion conceded in the first four minutes to go behind, 1-0. Marshall’s Larissa Ozorio crossed the ball from the left side of the box to the feet of Luiza Travassos who slotted her shot past Ellie Goodrich.
The Monarchs equalized in the 16th minute thanks to a brilliant solo run by Riley Mullen. She drove the ball into the Herd’s box and finished cleanly off her left foot to the bottom right corner of the net past MU’s Emma Durand.
Mullen scored the game-winning goal two minutes later. All-Sun Belt First Team Defender Dylan McEntarfer whipped in a cross from the right wing, Katie Lutz got her head to tip the pass to Mullen. The Staten Island, New York native then chipped the keeper with a high-footed shot that Durand couldn’t control and made the game 2-1.
ODU’s third and fourth goals of the game both came from corner kicks. Koto Davis provided the delivery on both of them, the first was lofted to the far post in the 34th minute but Marshall’s defense couldn’t clear their line and Ashlynn Kulha gained possession in the box. The three-time Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year registered her first points of the season after she found McEntarfer waiting in the middle of the box to slap the ball with her left foot. She got her opportunity and beat Durand to the top right corner of the net, 3-1.
Davis provided another well-placed delivery in the 42nd for ODU’s fourth goal. She lofted the ball towards the far post. Marshall’s defenders were not prepared to clear the ball and ODU’s Hannah Morgan snapped up possession and wiggled her way to an open shot and fired to the bottom left-hand corner to go up 4-1 at the end of the first half.
Ashley Economopoulos scored in the 50th minute of action to give ODU a 5-1 lead for the final goal of the contest. ODU worked the ball around MU’s final third to help find Sydney Somers making a run to the byline. She received the ball and put in a cross to the center of the box and found the Grantville, Pennsylvania native, who took her shot first time off her weaker right foot. MU’s Durand was able to apply a pair of gloves to her shot, but the attempt brushed past them and into the back of the net.
Mullen scored her fifth and sixth goals of the season and now moves ahead of Economopoulos as the team’s leader in total points with 15. Economopoulos sits in second with 13 points from six goals and one assist, and Morgan scored her sixth goal of the season tonight for her 12th point.
ODU’s back line of McEntarfer, Ashlynn Kulha, and Libby Holmes all played the full 90 minutes on the pitch. McEntarfer scored her third goal of the season and provided her third assist for her ninth point and is now the Monarchs’ fifth leading point getter. Somers, Lutz, and Kulha each registered one assist.
Goodrich played the entire game in goal and made two saves. Her record in net improves to 9-5-2 with eight shutouts.
UP NEXT:
#2 seeded Old Dominion faces #3 seeded App State on Wednesday, November 11 at 5 p.m. ET at the Foley Sports Tourism Complex.