A Promising Start

Freshman Ashley Economopoulos has made an impressive debut for the Old Dominion Monarchs women’s soccer team. Her stellar performance in the first two games has already set high expectations for the season.

In the recent home opener against William & Mary, Economopoulos scored the only goal of the match, securing a narrow 1-0 victory. The goal came in the second half after she received a pass from senior teammate Yuliia Khrystiuk.

Opening Weekend Highlights

Earlier in the week, Economopoulos recorded an assist during the team’s season opener, a hard-fought 2-2 tie against No. 19 Georgetown. ODU Head Coach Angie Hind praised the team’s performance during this opening weekend.

“To tie Georgetown, who’s one of the nation’s top teams, and then come home and win a very physical game, that’s huge for us,” said Hind.

Recruiting Success

Economopoulos, who hails from Grantville, Pennsylvania, was notable for her impressive high school career. She recorded 35 goals and 21 assists last season at Lower Dauphin High School and was recognized as Pennsylvania’s Player of the Year.

Her background with the Penn Fusion club team further solidified her reputation as a promising talent. Coach Hind remarked on Economopoulos’ maturity and skill, highlighting her ability to maintain possession and finish under pressure.

“She holds the ball up so well. She has great awareness and, as you could see tonight, she finishes under pressure,” Hind noted.

Team Dynamics and Strategy

After the game, Economopoulos emphasized the importance of teamwork, stating, “This win was just a team effort. The first half, we were close but just couldn’t finish. But we really turned it on in the second half.”

During the crucial play leading to the goal, Khrystiuk intercepted a pass from William & Mary, making a quick move before delivering the ball to Economopoulos, who executed flawlessly.

“From that point, it was all Ashley,” Khrystiuk remarked. “It was a great goal. She’s really a good player with such a bright future.”

Defensive Strength

While ODU outshot the Tribe 10-6, the defense had to withstand significant pressure late in the game. The Monarchs’ defensive unit, consisting of players like Sydney Somers, Ashlynn Kulha, Grace Hillis, Kendall Mesh, and Dylan McEntarfer, performed admirably under pressure.

Goalkeeper Ellie Goodrich made three pivotal saves late in the game, marking her first career match for ODU. Coach Hind praised the defense, particularly emphasizing their ability to maintain composure as the game intensified.

“We knew we had to protect the lead, and they did a great job to close out the game,” Hind remarked.

Looking Ahead

ODU will next face Maryland, a Big Ten opponent, on Sunday, August 23, at 6 p.m. As the team prepares, Coach Hind expressed optimism for continued improvement, stating, “We have a week to get ready, which is nice, because we’re early in the season.”