Ashlynn Kulha, Ellie Goodrich earn Player of the Year awards

Ashlynn Kulha and Ellie Goodrich Dominate as Seven Monarchs Land All-Sun Belt Honors

NEW ORLEANS – In a season defined by defensive dominance, Old Dominion University’s soccer program has etched its name into the Sun Belt record books. Ashlynn Kulha made history on Thursday by becoming the first player in conference history to win three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards, while Ellie Goodrich was named Goalkeeper of the Year. The accolades, announced by the conference, cap off a campaign where the Monarchs’ backline didn’t just compete; it suffocated opponents into submission.

This isn’t just about individual awards. It’s about a collective defensive identity that has become the program’s signature. Seven Monarchs earned All-Sun Belt Team selections, a number that shows the team's depth and the amount of talent Norfolk has developed. The Silver and Blue landed four First Team nods, making up 36.3% of the conference’s first team. When nearly two-fifths of the best players in the league come from one program, it signals more than a good year—it signals a new standard of excellence.

The Wall in Front of the Goal

Let’s talk numbers, because they tell the real story. Old Dominion’s defense, anchored by Kulha and Goodrich, allowed a grand total of three goals in all Sun Belt conference play this season. Think about that for a moment. For an entire conference slate, a team of this caliber was challenged to find the back of the net just three times. The statistical reflection of that dominance is a 0.71 opponent scoring rating. To put that into context, a 0.71 rating is the average scoring offense of the 317th-ranked program in all of Division I. The Monarchs didn’t just beat their conference opponents; they systematically reduced them to the offensive equivalent of a low-mid-tier program, game after game.

Goodrich, in her fourth season at Old Dominion and second as a starter, has allowed only eight goals all season, with just three coming in conference action. Her individual stats paint a picture of a shot-stopping machine: 24 saves on a 75% save percentage, eight shutouts, and a goals-against average of 0.59. She earned her first Defensive Player of the Week honor on September 22 after securing a shutout in ODU’s 1-0 win over ULM. This season’s performance builds on a campaign where she ranked second in the Sun Belt in goals against average and was named to the All-Sun Belt Third Team.

A Legacy Forged in Steel

If Goodrich is the shield, Kulha is the spearhead of the entire defensive philosophy. The Holly Springs, North Carolina, native didn’t just earn a third-straight DPOY award; she shattered the ceiling for what was possible in the conference. Before her, no Sun Belt player had ever won the award twice. Now, she stands alone with three, cementing her status as the most decorated Sun Belt women’s soccer defender of all time.

Kulha’s trophy case is overflowing with hardware. This season, she was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week for the fifth time in her career after a pair of shutout performances on September 29. Her collection includes three All-Sun Belt First Team nods, three Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team selections, and a championship ring from the Monarchs’ 2023 Sun Belt title. Her impact is felt not just in the stat sheet but in the culture she has built. She plays every minute, which proves her endurance.

But Kulha isn’t a one-woman show. She forms the heart of a formidable center-back pairing with Libby Holmes, who also earned a First Team All-Sun Belt nod. The Shefford, England, native transferred to ODU after a career at ULM and has picked up right where she left off, earning back-to-back First Team honors. Holmes was also named Defensive Player of the Week on October 6 after scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over South Alabama. Her ability to contribute offensively, while maintaining defensive integrity, makes her a unique and dangerous weapon.

Defensive Quartet Keeps Nine Clean Sheets

The defensive stats are staggering, but they are a product of a cohesive unit. Dylan McEntarfer, a Virginia Beach native, earned her first All-Sun Belt honor as a First Team selection. Playing every single minute this season, she has worked well with Kulha, Holmes, and Sydney Somers. Her presence is so constant that she has only sat on the bench for six minutes all year. The defensive quartet of Kulha, Holmes, McEntarfer, and Sydney Somers has kept seven conference clean sheets and nine total, both of which rank best in the Sun Belt.

The Monarchs’ success isn’t limited to the back line. Ashley Economopoulos, a forward from Grantville, Pennsylvania, earned a Second Team All-Sun Belt nod. She has been a force in conference play, scoring all five of her goals and all 11 of her points against Sun Belt opponents. This is her second All-Sun Belt recognition after earning a Third Team nod in her freshman season. Her ability to deliver in crucial moments was on full display in late October when she scored the game-winning goals in back-to-back conference matches, earning her a Defensive Player of the Week award.

Controlling the middle of the pitch are Madison Telmer and Ally Richardson. Telmer, a native of Singapore, was named to the Third Team after playing every game and tallying 10 points from three goals and three assists. She has a knack for finding the net in big moments, scoring game-winners in 2026 against Maryland and Georgia Southern. Richardson, a transfer from ULM, has started every game in her first year with ODU. While she has just one goal to her name, it was a memorable one—a long free kick in a 3-0 win over Longwood—that showcased her ability to change a game from distance.

Seven All-Conference selections. A defense that makes opposing offenses look like they’re playing in slow motion. A goalkeeper with a goals-against average that defies logic. For the Old Dominion Monarchs, the 2026 season is not just a successful campaign; it is a statement. They have built a program that is not just competitive, but feared, setting a benchmark that will be the measure for every Sun Belt team that follows.

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