Women's Soccer

Monarchs Capture First Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Tournament Title

FOLEY, Ala. – The No. 6 seed Monarchs from Old Dominion defeated the No. 4 seed Dukes from James Madison 4-3 in overtime to capture their first Sun Belt Conference title.
 
In its first year in the league, Old Dominion (9-8-3) captured its first Sun Belt title with the win to send the Monarchs to their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. They will find out their postseason fate on Monday, November 7 with the selection show at 2:30 p.m. CT.
 
Carla Morich provided the fireworks in the match, as the senior from Hamburg, Germany tallied the hat trick and game-winner in the 106th minute for the Monarchs. Morich was also named the 2022 Sun Belt Tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer.
 
Nine of the 10 matches at the 2022 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Tournament were decided by one or fewer goals.
 
Old Dominion got on the board first as Morich scored her first goal of the match just 38 seconds into the championship bout. Megan Watts picked up the assist on Morich’s sixth goal of the year. 10 minutes later, Watts earned a goal of her own to put Old Dominion ahead 2-0.
 
James Madison (12-4-5) was awarded a penalty kick two minutes before the half as Hannah Young converted from the spot to put the Dukes down 2-1 at the break.
 
Morich came out firing in the second half for her second goal of the match just 1:47 after the whistle with an assist from Andrea Balcazar Algarin to give the Monarchs a commanding 3-1 lead. James Madison answered a minute later as Attanasi scored her ninth goal of the season after a through ball from Hannah Young to cut the lead to one.
 
The Dukes were presented with another penalty kick opportunity in the 58th minute as Sophia Verrecchia scored her fifth goal of the year from the spot to tie the match at three. Both teams had chances, but the match was sent to overtime for the fifth time in the tournament.
 
James Madison recorded the lone shot of the first overtime as the score remained 3-3. Morich scored the match-winner in the 106th minute to give Old Dominion the win and tournament title.
 
2022 Sun Belt Women’s Soccer All-Tournament Team
Most Outstanding Performer – Carla Morich, Old Dominion
Andrea Balcazar Algarin, Old Dominion
Riley Kennett, Old Dominion
Anna Toerslov, Old Dominion
Ece Turkoglu, Old Dominion
Amanda Attanasi, James Madison
Soleil Flores, James Madison
Suwaibatu Mohammed, James Madison
Lidia Nduka, James Madison
Jaddah Foos, Georgia State
Morgan Cross, South Alabama

All-Time Sun Belt Women’s Soccer Tournament Champions
2000- FIU 
2001 – Denver
2002 – Denver
2003 – Denver
2004 – North Texas
2005 – North Texas
2006 – Denver
2007 – Denver
2008 – Denver
2009 – Denver
2010 – Middle Tennessee
2011 – FIU
2012 – North Texas
2013 – South Alabama
2014 – South Alabama
2015 – South Alabama
2016 – South Alabama
2017 – South Alabama
2018 – Little Rock
2019 – South Alabama
2020 – South Alabama
2021 – South Alabama
2022 – Old Dominion