Old Dominion advances to Quarterfinals in 5-0 Win over Ohio State
Written By: Kathryne Mason
Distribution Manager
Making sure they set the tone of the game to their pace, Old Dominion came out pushing hard and fast. One minute and 45 seconds into the game, the Lady Monarchs were awarded for their efforts and earned the first corner of the game.
Getting the pass from senior Rebecca Condie, forward Katie Nearhouse, without hesitation, put the ball in the net giving Old Dominion a one to nothing edge. The small cluster of Ohio State parents and fans shook their heads in a disapproving way, not wanting to believe what they just saw.
From start to finish, Old Dominion never let up offensively or defensively. The Lady Monarchs dominated ball control. Ohio State didn’t get the ball into their possession for another 10 minutes.
Senior Emma Batten, who is known for always hustling to the ball, did just that throughout the game. On more than one occasion, Batten made great stops and key interceptions, reading the Lady Buckeyes bodies and knowing their every move.
With the Lady Buckeyes not watching their feet in the circle, Old Dominion was again given their second consecutive corner just under the 21 minute mark.
There is a saying in field hockey, that “every corner is a goal” and for Old Dominion, the saying couldn’t have been more true.
Condie, who was aiming for Kirk’s stick, made a pass that slightly missed the mark. With the ball still in the circle, and play still in action, No. 5 made a beautiful push hit over to Condie, who was standing by the post with no one guarding her. As easy as one, two, three, Condie knocked the ball past Ohio State keeper Ally Tunitis and put the Monarchs up two to null. This was Condie’s eighth goal of the season.
Trying to put a spark back in her troops, Ohio State head coach Anne Wilkinson called a timeout with 20 minutes left in the first half. The spark worked, and no more than a minute later, the Lady Buckeyes were finally given their first corner of the game.
Photo By Jake Zimmerman
With defensive back Christy Longacre leading the defense, the Buckeyes got nothing. Batten took the ball to the abdominal arc, making a huge sacrifice by putting her body in between her offender and the goal.
Seven minutes later, Batten would get awarded for her sacrifices by notching another goal for Old Dominion.
Kirk, who was handed the assist, played a textbook style “give-and-take” pass with Batten all the way up the left sideline, into the circle. Not knowing that Batten would be the most threatening force, four Lady Buckeye defenders dropped Batten to pick up on Kirk, who was still in the circle with the ball.
On the final give, Kirk made a reverse stick sweep to Batten, who was waiting on the far left side post to knock it in goal.
Batten, who was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Field Hockey Player of the Year, is tied forfifth with Northwestern’s Chelsea Armstrong, in NCAA field hockey goals per game, with an average of 1.14.
Before the end of the first half, both Old Dominion and Ohio State would be awarded corners, but neither produced.
Coming out with the same dominant force that they started the game off with, Old Dominion scored 20 seconds into the second half.
Nearhouse got the assist, with Batten getting her twenty-seventh goal of the season. After Batten’s goal, Ohio State had four consecutive corners, all within a six minute time span. Once again, Longacre and Condie both stepped up and gave them nothing. Ohio State would only be 1-6 in corners.
Clearing the ball out of the circle, Kirk made a high flick over the heads of both Old Dominion and Ohio State players, and got it to the perfect spot where freshmen Lydia Velzian went one-on-one with Buckeye defender Jenn Sciulli. Velzian beat Sciulli and scored, giving Velzian her first post regular season goal.
Velzian’s goal would indefinitely be the final for Old Dominion as they went on to eliminate Ohio State out of the tournament.
With the win, Old Dominion moves on to the quarterfinals. Second seeded Old Dominion will play Duke at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon at the Powhatan Sports Complex.
