Season Opener Defeat for Ohio State Field Hockey
The Ohio State Buckeyes began their 2026 field hockey campaign with a 3-2 defeat against Old Dominion Monarchs on Thursday night, a match that swung back and forth before the visitors pulled ahead in the final quarter.
Old Dominion struck first when Josie Painter broke away for a breakaway goal, giving the Monarchs an early lead. Despite outshooting the opposition 3-1 in the opening quarter, the Buckeyes could not find an equaliser before halftime, with Old Dominion goalkeeper Suus Broers making several key saves.
Carmela Maro responded for Ohio State with a goal that trimmed the deficit, tying her with the program’s recent home‑opener scoring trend. The Buckeyes continued to press, generating 15 shots and eight penalty corners throughout the contest.
In the third quarter, Lotte Haagmans extended Old Dominion’s advantage with a penalty corner conversion, and the Monarchs doubled their lead. The Buckeyes narrowed the gap again when Maro struck for a second time, bringing the score to 2-2.
Grace Dixon, a freshman, capped the scoring with her first career goal and first point for the Buckeyes, sealing a 3-2 victory for Old Dominion. Her decisive strike came on a penalty corner in the fourth quarter.
The loss leaves Ohio State with a 0‑1 record as they prepare to host Bellarmine on Sunday, August 30, at Buckeye Varsity Field, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.