ODU field hockey to host Ohio State in NCAA opener

By Lee Tolliver
The Virginian-Pilot
© November 11, 2011

The Old Dominion field hockey team, with its sights set on ending an 11-year championship drought, will host the first round of the 16-team NCAA Division I tournament on Saturday.

ODU (20-2) is seeded No. 2 behind top-ranked North Carolina.

The Monarchs last won the title in 2000 and have won an NCAA-record nine crowns.

ODU will take on Ohio State (12-8) at 11:30 a.m. Duke (13-7) goes against Stanford (17-3) at 2 p.m. The winners meet at 2 p.m. Sunday. All three games will be played at the ODU Powhatan Sports Complex.

Sunday's winner advances to the Final Four next weekend in Louisville, Ky.

ODU played Ohio State during the season, earning a 2-0 victory in Columbus.

The Monarchs have outscored opponents 85-22 and are fifth in the country in goals-against average at .98. Emma Batten leads the team in scoring with 25 goals and five assists for 55 points. She is tied for fifth in the nation in scoring average with 1.14 goals a game.

Former Princess Anne High standout Maartje van Rijswijk is second in points with 28 on nine goals and 10 assists.

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com

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