NORFOLK, VIRGINIA — Old Dominion made early strikes count Wednesday night, building a two-goal lead before halftime and holding off a late Georgia St. surge to secure a 2-1 victory. The Monarchs, riding a two-game winning streak, controlled much of the first half and weathered the Panthers' second-half pressure in front of an energetic home crowd at the ODU Soccer Complex.
Riley Mullen opened the scoring in the 20th minute, capitalizing on a setup from Yuliia Khrystiuk to give Old Dominion an early advantage. The hosts doubled their lead just seven minutes later when Andrea Balcazar Algarin found the back of the net off another Khrystiuk assist, putting Georgia St. in a difficult position before the halftime break. Aaliyah Faddoul pulled one back for the Panthers in the 72nd minute, but the goal came too late to spark a full comeback.
Old Dominion dominated the opening 45 minutes, controlling possession and creating multiple scoring chances. Beyond Mullen's breakthrough, the Monarchs generated consistent pressure through the midfield, with Katie Lutz and Andrea Balcazar Algarin testing Georgia St.'s defense repeatedly. The Panthers struggled to establish rhythm early, with Faddoul managing only a pair of off-target attempts in the first half. A yellow card to Therese Brink in the eighth minute set an early disciplinary tone.
Georgia St. emerged with renewed intensity after the break, finally finding their footing as the match wore on. The Panthers generated several corner opportunities and forced Old Dominion into a more defensive posture. Faddoul's 72nd-minute goal gave the visitors genuine hope, but the Monarchs' backline held firm despite sustained pressure in the final stages. Gry Boe Thrysoe picked up a yellow card for Old Dominion in the 35th minute, while Georgia St.'s Lily Sawyer was cautioned late in the match.
Statistically, Old Dominion's efficiency was the difference. The Monarchs managed eight shots on goal compared to Georgia St.'s three, while also dominating the corner count 6-0. Georgia St. compensated with solid defensive work, recording six saves to Old Dominion's two. The Panthers' inability to generate early chances ultimately proved costly in a match where the home side's clinical finishing in the first half proved decisive.
Khrystiuk was instrumental in Old Dominion's early success, setting up both opening goals and orchestrating the Monarchs' attacking play. Mullen and Balcazar Algarin converted their opportunities with precision, while Faddoul provided Georgia St. with a spark off the bench despite the late timing. The Panthers' second-half adjustments showed promise but came against a disciplined Old Dominion side content to protect their advantage.
The victory improves Old Dominion to 10-2-4 on the season, extending their recent momentum after a disappointing loss to Louisiana last week. Georgia St. falls to 9-7-2 and has now dropped consecutive matches, with the Panthers' inconsistency continuing to plague their NCAA tournament resume. The loss marks a significant missed opportunity for the visitors to gain ground in the conference standings.
Old Dominion returns to action this weekend with a conference matchup, looking to build on their recent form. Georgia St. will aim to bounce back quickly and arrest their two-game skid when they host their next opponent, hoping to recapture the attacking verve that earned them a win over Arkansas St. just days earlier.