PHILADELPHIA – For the first time in program history, Old Dominion captured the BIG EAST field hockey title.
 
The Monarchs (14-5, 6-1 BIG EAST) scored the final three goals of the game to earn a 3-1 win over No. 6 Liberty (17-2, 7-0 BIG EAST) at Howarth Field in the BIG EAST Field Hockey Championship, presented by JEEP.
 
Old Dominion earns the BIG EAST’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship, while Liberty will await to hear its name during the NCAA Championship selection show at 10 p.m. ET Sunday night on NCAA.com.

After a scoreless opening quarter it was the Flames that struck first in the 19^th minute when Bethany Dykema fired home a goal off a penalty corner.
 
Five minutes later, Old Dominion’s Frederique Zandenbergen evened the score at 1-1 off a corner, with Sacha de Gier picking up the assist.
 
Out of the locker room, the Monarchs took their first lead of the game off a rocket by Marlon de Bruijne on a penalty corner.
 
Old Dominion extended its lead after a yellow card was distributed to the Flames, as Nicole Fredricks found a back-door goal in the 47^th minute.
 
Anchoring the back line for the Monarchs with a shutout in the semifinals, as well as contributing on the offensive end with a goal in the title game, Nicole Fredricks was announced as the BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player.

BIG EAST All-Tournament Team
Marlon de Bruijne, Old Dominion
Nicole Fredricks, Old Dominion
Frederique Zandbergen, Old Dominion
Sacha de Gier, Old Dominion
Azul Iritxity Irigoyen, Liberty
Bethany Dykema, Liberty
Mili Arteta, Liberty
Agustina Tucceri, Temple
Tess Muller, Temple
Meghan Mitchell, Villanova
Sabine de Ruijter, Villanova
 
Most Outstanding Player: Nicole Fredricks, Old Dominion