If you tuned into the ODU Field Hockey game on Friday thinking it would be a relaxing start to your weekend, oh boy, you were wrong. The final 15:01 of that game will give job security to any cardiologist treating a Monarch fan.
It was a slugfest. One you would have expected if you’ve followed the history of ODU vs. Liberty field hockey. It was also a master class in coaching, execution and long term strategy to put the team in the best position to win. If you haven’t yet raised a glass to Andrew Griffiths and that coaching staff, you should.
The first half saw several good pushes offensively, but both defenses held strong. ODU had four penalty corner attempts to LU’s one but they struggled to cash in. It was similar to their games against Duke and Ohio State, close, but unlucky and no shot finding the back of the cage.
In the third quarter, we were treated to much of the same. A handful of offensive pushes but defenses controlled play. Until Serena Langendoen cashed in on a penalty corner as time expired in the third quarter. Frederique Zandbergen was credited with the assist but you also have to give kudos to Sanci Molkenboer and Amelie Zielcke who pushed Zandbergen’s pass down the line to Langendoen.
That goal sparked a flurry of the fourth quarter action as Liberty tied the game just 2:38 into the final frame. ODU answered right back when Emily Tammaro fired a shot from a tough angle that bounced and spun past the keeper and into the cage two minutes later.
The Flames weren’t done though. Scoring again to tie things up with just over 7 minutes to play.
To say it was tense in the final few minutes would be an injustice to both teams. It felt like a conference championship game many weeks in advance. And it very well could be a Big East Championship preview.
With just over two minutes to play, Old Dominion’s defensive intensity forced a Liberty turnover, resulting in a penalty corner for the Monarchs and Langendoen delivered again. Zandbergen fired it from the back line for a one touch set up by Rina Tsioles. Langendoen did the rest with a hammer of a shot that went through the advancing keeper and into the net.
ODU’s defense held off any final pushes Liberty had left in the tank and came away with a 3-2 victory.
This win is a payoff in several ways for the Monarchs. It’s been a run of tough opponents for ODU with highly ranked Duke and Ohio State. The Monarchs played well but fell just short of a victory. That experience paid off against another highly ranked opponent in Liberty, this time they came away with a W.
ODU has also struggled to convert penalty corners against those highly ranked opponents. But Friday they did twice, in the most critical of moments. It’s been a point of emphasis from the coaching staff and it paid off in a big way.
For those of you new to ODU Field Hockey, this is Football beating JMU, it’s Basketball beating VCU. BEAT YOUR RIVALS is a rallying cry on the Hudson Homers podcast and rings true here.
Conference play is just starting though, still a long road with tough Big East opponents ahead. ODU gets their next opportunity on Friday when they head up to Philly for a noon contest with Temple. They follow that up with a non-conference tilt with VCU on Sunday at 1pm.
Shoutout to CB Wilkins for some incredible photos. Follow him on Instagram.