In the team’s second straight Big East Conference road game, Old Dominion field hockey downed Villanova 4-1 on Friday afternoon, snapping a three-game losing streak.
ODU entered the game 4-7 overall and 2-1 in Big East play with hopes of continuing their campaign for a spot in the conference playoffs in early November. The Wildcats also had a 4-7 overall record and a 2-1 Big East record as they welcomed the Monarchs to Villanova.
Madison Zalewski opened the game for Old Dominion by drawing a penalty corner within the first 30 seconds of play, where Sanci Molkenboer was able to get a shot off. Two more corners would come from the Monarchs, both in courtesy of Cosmia Perleth. At the 11-minute mark, Avery Jackson was able to haul one in with help from Sian Emslie to put ODU on the board, though Villanova wouldn’t end the quarter without scoring. Ava Borkowski scored a goal with under a minute left to play, assisted by both Addie Froehlich and Gemma Lysaght, to end the quarter with an even 1-1 score.
No corners were awarded to either side of the field in the second quarter, as play got more gritty with 13 fouls being called on Villanova to Old Dominion’s 10. However, Emslie put the Monarchs back in the lead with just 45 seconds remaining in the half after a connection with Jackson, giving ODU a 2-1 lead as halftime rolled around.
Nine fouls were committed on ODU with five coming from the Wildcats as the score remained the same by the end of the third quarter, though Old Dominion came out ready to score in the fourth quarter. After a corner was rewarded to the Monarchs in courtesy of Zalewski, a blocked shot from Serena Langendoen was able to set Nicolette Saccomandi up for a goal with help from Amelie Zielcke. Under a minute later, Emslie grabbed her second goal of the day after an assist from Zalewski to give ODU a solid 4-1 lead.
The Wildcats were unable to make up the deficit despite being awarded eight corners in the remainder of the quarter, five of which came in at the final minute. Villanova’s failure to capitalize awarded Old Dominion its 4-1 win.
The Wildcats had a game-high 11 penalty corners while the Monarchs accounted for six, though Old Dominion had six shots on goal to Villanova’s five. Both teams played aggressively, with 36 fouls coming from the Monarchs and 34 coming from the Wildcats.
Emslie led the way in scoring for ODU with two goals, while Jackson and Saccomandi each accounted for one. Emslie, Jackson, Zalewski, and Zielcke all had a team-high one assist. Goalie Suus Broers had four saves on five shots, bringing her season total up to 40.
Old Dominion returns home to host another Big East conference game against Temple on Friday, Oct. 17 at noon. The Owls are 9-3 overall with a 2-2 conference record after falling to UConn at home on Oct. 10.
