Old Dominion Field Hockey (2-0) launched their 2024 campaign with two 3-0 shutout road victories over Richmond and Hofstra last week. The reigning Big East Champions are ranked #18 in the NFHCA coaches poll and can expect that to climb this week.
ODU returns three All-Big East selections from 2023 including Goalkeeper Suus Broers, who was also the co-Freshman of the Year and the 2024 preseason Goalkeeper of the year. The sophomore from Utrecht, Netherlands started all 20 games in goal last year and stacked up nine total shutouts (3 combined). Through two games in 2024, Broers has not been beaten.
Suus said she focused on fitness this offseason. “For me fitness was kind of a big thing. Back in Holland, me as a goalie, I didn’t really have to do anything but here they have me doing all of the runs, which was good,” said Broers. “I got a lot fitter over the season and I saw that once I get fit I’ll get better as a goalie.”
ODU will have some new faces for their backline in 2024 and communicating with them is a key for Broers. “I’m from a different country so in English it’s harder, so I tried to focus a lot on that too.”
The defenders are likely to learn a couple key words in Dutch when the intensity cranks up, but several on the back line already speak it.
We were lucky enough to be invited to ODU Field Hockey practice a few weeks ago and see the team in action.
Old Dominion has some holes to fill at each line with a number of key players who departed, mostly because they were out of eligibility. Back Nicole Fredricks started in 21 games for ODU last season and 87 total for her career. Marlon de Bruijne tallied a career high 44 points with 19 goals and 6 assists while Sacha di Gier has 12 goals and 6 assists. The Monarchs will also be without defensive midfielder Danielle Hussar who finished with 8 assists.
While those are big shoes to fill, the Monarchs return a strong core of players at each level and added talent through the freshman class and transfer portal.
Frederique Zandbergen (3G, 17A) and Rina Tsioles (1G, 9A) return to the midfield. Zandbergen was far and away the conference leader with 17 assists, second on that Big East list was Tsioles with 9. Lauren Holbrook is also expected to be a key leader for the team in her Senior season.
On the back line, sophomore Kerry McCormick returns after starting in all 20 games for ODU last season. She will be joined by two Freshman, Serena Langendoen and Amelie Zielcke. Both Serena and Amelie were key to the shutout victories over Richmond and Hofstra. While this unit in front of Broers may be young, it is exceptionally talented.
So how do the Monarchs replace the large chunk of offensive production not returning in 2024? Pretty simple actually, develop and create opportunities for the talent you have and reload in the transfer portal.
ODU has already seen this approach pay off through their first two games. Delaware transfer Sian Emslie scored two goals against Hofstra, Shippensburg transfer Tess Jedeloo scored two goals against Richmond. Zandbergen and Tsioles have three assists each while Zandbergen also knocked in her first goal of 2024 at Hofstra.
Junior Emily Tammaro and Sophomore Nicolette Saccomandi haven’t notched the scoring column yet, but they’ve started in both games and have been key to the success of the Monarch midfield.
Sam Zywna, who transferred in from Maryland prior to the 2023 campaign, missed most of last year due to injury but is expected to be back as an important piece of the offensive puzzle.
The team seems to be ahead of the curve with their chemistry and it’s shown up with their 2-0 start. They finish out this four game road stint with Queens (NC) on Friday and at William and Mary on Sunday.
ODU will be happy to play in front of a home crowd for the first time in 2024 but it comes with a substantial bump in strength of schedule. The Monarchs will host #5 Duke on Friday, September 13th at 5pm and #14 Ohio State on Sunday, September 15th at noon.
Old Dominion installed a new playing surface this offseason and will officially unveil it during the first home stand. It’s going to play a little slower than the previous well worn playing surface but expect that speed to increase after a few games. The navy border looks fantastic, even if it slightly raises the temperature on the sideline.
Make sure to swing by L.R. Hill for the home opening contests and cheer on your Monarchs.