A Promising Start for the Monarchs
Old Dominion's field hockey team opened the 2026 season with a hard‑fought 3‑2 victory over Ohio State, snapping a 15‑year winless streak against the Buckeyes and giving the program a much‑needed boost heading into the new campaign.
The Monarchs struck first when Josie Painter found the net at the 13‑minute mark, and the lead was doubled by Lotte Haagmans before halftime. Serena Langendoen added a third goal, giving Old Dominion a comfortable cushion early in the match.
Head coach Andrew Griffiths praised the squad's energy and work rate, noting the team's defensive resilience despite being outshot 15‑7. Goalie Suus Broers made two crucial saves on penalty corners and finished with five stops overall, preserving the narrow advantage.
Ohio State responded in the third quarter, with Carmela Maro scoring just 42 seconds in and later adding a second goal. Grace Dixon converted a penalty at the 51‑minute mark to cut the deficit to 3‑2, but the Monarchs held firm.
Despite a 8‑5 edge in penalty corners, Old Dominion's defense limited Ohio State to a single save by goalkeeper Maddie Stevens. The win sets up a showdown with Bellarmine on Saturday, August 29 at 3 p.m.