The Old Dominion Monarchs field hockey team (formerly the Lady Monarchs) represents Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The team currently competes as a Big East Conference affiliate of NCAA Division I field hockey.

History

The Old Dominion field hockey program initiated as the Norfolk Division Braves of the College of William & Mary in 1930, competing with local high school clubs and trade schools prior to its independence. Once the independent Old Dominion College was established after governor Albertis Harrison dissolved the William & Mary college system in 1962, the field hockey program began competitions with other local, independent college clubs.

Competitions expanded past the local level after the hiring of head coach Beth Anders in the early 1980s. Under her 30-season tenure as head coach, the Monarchs achieved nine NCAA tournament championship titles, producing six Honda Sports Award winners and 17 competitors in the Olympic Games. Anders helped the U.S. field hockey team win bronze in the 1984 Summer Olympics, won 12 CAA Coach of the Year awards, and was the winningest coach in NCAA history upon her retirement. The Monarchs hired former Canadian forward Andrew Griffiths following Anders' departure. Griffiths remains as ODU's head coach as of the 2023 season.

The Monarchs previously competed in the Colonial Athletic Association from 1991 to 2012 prior to Old Dominion's move to the FBS. While Conference USA served as ODU's primary conference starting in 2013, they did not sponsor field hockey as a sport. The field hockey program joined the new Big East Conference as an associate member following its conference realignment.

Stadium

The Monarchs play their games at the Powhatan Sports Complex on ODU campus in Norfolk, Virginia, which permanently seats 1,500 and holds an AstroTurf playing surface. The venue has received national attention through its hosting of three NCAA Division I field hockey tournaments.

The Old Dominion field hockey program previously played at Foreman Field (now S.B. Ballard Stadium) prior to the establishment of the sports complex in 2008. The complex was built to provide a home to ODU field hockey due to the re-establishment of their football program in 2009, which would replace the stadium's occupancy during the fall sports season. Three previous NCAA tournament championships were played at Foreman Field, including the 2000 championship won by Old Dominion.

All-time record Year Head coach Overall Conf. Conf. Tournament NCAA Tournament 1974 Carl Anthony 1–7–1 – – – 1975 Mikki Flowers 3–6–2 – – – 1976 5–13 – – – 1977 6–6 – – – 1978 11–7 – – – 1979 8–6–1 – – – 1980 Beth Anders 18–4 – – – 1981 13–2–2 – – Semifinals 1982 20–1 – – Champions 1983 19–1 – – Champions 1984 23–0 – – Champions 1985 Melissa Magee 20–7 – – Runner up 1986 18–2–2 – – Quarterfinals 1987 Beth Anders 17–5–1 – – Quarterfinals 1988 26–1 – – Champions 1989 24–2 – – Runner up 1990 23–2–1 – – Champions 1991 26–0 7–0 Champions Champions 1992 25–0 6–0 Champions Champions 1993 17–4 6–0 Champions First round 1994 17–6–1 4–2 Champions Quarterfinals 1995 16–9 5–1 Runner up Quarterfinals 1996 19–5 6–0 Champions Semifinals 1997 22–3 6–0 Champions Runner up 1998 23–2 6–0 Champions Champions 1999 17–7 5–0 Champions Quarterfinals 2000 25–1 5–0 Champions Champions 2001 18–5 3–0 Champions Quarterfinals 2002 21–4 7–0 Champions Semifinals 2003 Sue Meyers (interim) 14–10 6–1 Champions Quarterfinals 2004 Beth Anders 13–8 6–1 Semifinals First round 2005 19–6 8–0 Champions Semifinals 2006 19–4 8–0 Runner up First round 2007 12–11 8–0 Runner up First round 2008 10–13 6–2 Runner up – 2009 9–11 5–3 – – 2010 13–11 7–1 Champions Quarterfinals 2011 22–3 8–0 Champions Semifinals 2012 15–6 7–0 – Quarterfinals2013 Andrew Griffiths13–86–1Runner upFirst round201411–84–1Semifinals –20159–102–3Semifinals –20167–103–4 – –20178–105–2Semifinals –201810–73–4 – –201911–76–1Runner up –20209–58–3Runner up –202113–55–2Semifinals –202215–36–1Runner up –2023 14–66–1 ChampionsFirst round

Individual honors Name   Year(s)   Honda Sports Award (National Player of the Year) Marina DiGiacomo 2000 Yogi Hightower 1982 Kelli James 1992 Christy Morgan 1984 Mimi Smith 1998 Tiffany Snow 2002 First Team All-Americans Willemien Aardenburg 1984 Emma Batten 2011 Diane Bracalente 1982, 1984 Sue Callahan 1993, 1994 Danielle Chellew 1996 Maria DiGiacomo 1999, 2000 Janelle Engle 2005 Jill Fisher 1988 Jackie Grady 1986 Loran Hatch 2010 Tara Herrmann 2002 Yogi Hightower 1981, 1982 Maaike Hilbrand 1991, 1992 Dawn Hill 1985 Jamie Hill 1998 Mary Beth Holder 1981 Kelli James 1990, 1992 Cathy Large 1987 Christy Longacre 2013 Angie Loy 2002, 2003 Adele Mears 1983 Christy Morgan 1982, 1983, 1984 Pam Neiss 1990, 1991 Caroline Nichols 2006 Winnifred Sanders 1990 Carolyn Sarr 1989 Stelly Seltman 1986 Mimi Smith 1997, 1998 Robin Smith 1991, 1992 Tiffany Snow 2001, 2002 Marijolijn van der Sommen 2001 Cheryl Van Kuren 1984, 1985 Evaline Veraat 1983, 1984 Cindy Wallace 1984 Adrienne Yoder 2000, 2001 Conference Player(s) of the Year Emma Batten 2011 Danielle Chellew 1996 Marina DiGiacomo 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 Janelle Engle 2005 Kelli James 1992 Angie Loy 2003 Caroline Nichols 2006 Robin Smith 1991 Tiffany Snow 2002 Rosario Villagra (off.) 2013 Adrienne Yoder 2001Conference Coach of the Year Beth Anders 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000,2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012 Andrew Griffiths 2013

See also List of NCAA Division I field hockey programs

References

External links Official website