NORFOLK, Va. – The Villanova University field hockey team fell to Old Dominion, 2-1, on Friday afternoon (Oct. 18) at LR Hill Sports Complex.
 
Senior forward Anne Drabbe scored her second goal of the season while goalkeeper Maddi Sears tied a career-best with seven saves.
 
The Wildcats (7-7, 2-3 BIG EAST) opened the scoring just 58 seconds into the game with a goal by Drabbe after receiving a pass from Alexandria Lavelle.
 
Sears logged four saves throughout the rest of the first half to keep Villanova in front, 1-0, at halftime.
 
In the third quarter, Old Dominion (9-4, 4-1 BIG EAST) put two shots on goal, but both were saved by Sears, keeping the Wildcats in the lead.
 
After a pair of shots by the Monarchs went wide to start the fourth quarter, ODU converted on an opportunity with just over 10 minutes to play to even the score at 1-1.
 
Drabbe put another shot on goal for the Wildcats with 4:37 to play, but the shot was saved by Old Dominion goalkeeper Suus Broers.
 
Less than a minute later, ODU's Sanci Molkenboer scored on a deflection to give the Monarchs a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
 
"We started off the game great with a goal in the first 58 seconds. ODU is a strong team," said head coach Joanie Milhous. "Maddi (Sears) had some really strong saves; unfortunately, we couldn't get more pressure on them."
 
With the loss, Sears falls to 7-7 on the season despite the career-best save total. Broers was credited with the win, making one save.
 
Up next, the Wildcats will return home to face No. 20-ranked Temple next Friday (Oct. 25) at the Conshohocken Proving Grounds. The game will begin at 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on FloSports.