Oct. 16, 2005
NORFOLK, Va.-- The eighth ranked Old Dominion field hockey team had its eight-game win streak come to a halt as the third ranked Duke Blue Devils came away with a 3-2 victory on Sunday afternoon at Foreman Field.
The loss, which dropped the Lady Monarchs to 11-5 overall, was ODU's first loss since a September 17th loss at North Carolina. The win streak actually began against the Blue Devils as Old Dominion took the first of a home-and-home series, 5-2. Duke improved to 11-3 overall.
The Blue Devils struck first, 3:50 into the contest. Kirsten Bostrom collected the ball to the right of the Lady Monarch net and send the ball across the opposite side of the cage to Nicole Dudek for the 1-0 Blue Devil lead.
Old Dominion broke onto the scoreboard at the 12th minute on a penalty corner opportunity. Senior Janelle Engle (Mt. Joy, Pa.) fired away on net for her 14th tally of the 2005 season after the insert from junior Dana Sensenig (Denver, Pa.) and stick stop by junior Caroline Nichols (Va. Beach, Va.).
Dudek struck again at the 25th minute to give Duke the lead for good. Dudek intercepted a Lady Monarch pass and drove into the circle and past ODU keeper Mary Cate Gordon (Oreland, Pa.) for a 2-1 Blue Devil edge at the half.
Duke went up 3-1 at the 42nd minute in the second half thanks to Laura Suchoski finding a gap while on the right side of the circle.
The Lady Monarchs pulled within one moments later. Freshman Nicolien van Nispen (Bilthoven, Holland) drilled the ball past Duke netminder Christy Morgan near the top left of the circle leaving ODU trailing 3-2 with 25:41 left in the game.
Neither team could convert in the remaining time. The Lady Monarchs had several late chances, including two occasions in the closing minutes where the ball found the back of the Duke net, but was hit outside the circle.
Duke held the advantage in shots 14-12, while Old Dominion held a slight edge in penalty corners, 5-4.
In net, Gordon made eight saves in the loss for the Lady Monarchs. Morgan registered two saves in the victory.
Old Dominion returns to action next week in two crucial CAA matches. The Lady Monarchs travel to #10 Northeastern on Friday, October 21st and Hofstra and Sunday, October 23rd. The Huskies, CAA newcomers this season, are 4-0 in the CAA.