Oct. 29, 2005
NORFOLK, Va. -- The seventh-ranked Old Dominion field hockey team took it to the nation's top scoring defense on Saturday afternoon at Foreman Field as they handed the fourth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels a 5-0 shutout.
The victory upped ODU's mark to 14-5 overall as the Lady Monarchs close out non-conference competition with a 7-5 mark. The win was the Lady Monarchs' fifth over a Top 20 team and the fourth against a team ranked in the nation's Top 10.
North Carolina meanwhile fell to 12-5 overall and snapped a five-game winning streak against Old Dominion. The Tar Heels, who led the nation in scoring defense allowing only an average of .720 goals per game entering Saturday's game, gave up the most goals of any game this season and the most to a Lady Monarch team since 2001. Additionally, it was Old Dominion's largest margin of victory against the Tar Heels since 1998 when Old Dominion downed North Carolina by five goals, 7-2, during the NCAA Tournament.
On senior day, it was senior Janelle Engle (Mt. Joy, Pa.) who collected what would be the game-winner as she put away a penalty corner opportunity in the game in the 12th minute of action. The goal marked Engle's 16th tally of the season.
Over the course of the next four minutes, Old Dominion would go up 3-0 on the Tar Heels from unassisted goals by junior Dana Sensenig (Denver, Pa.) and sophomore Sami McLenegan (Middletown, Pa.).
In the second half, the Lady Monarchs put away two more from Sensenig, who scored her 16th goal of the 2005 season, and sophomore Denise Admiraal (Heillo, Holland), with her 15th.
In net, senior Mary Cate Gordon (Oreland, Pa.) posted three saves to preserve her sixth shutout of the season. North Carolina's Katy Tran made two stops, while Marie Bounds made one save playing in the game's final 10 minute. Tran had entered the game leading the nation in goals against average and ranking second in save percentage.
Overall, Old Dominion outshot North Carolina, 14-8, and outcornered the Tar Heels by one, 5-4.
The Lady Monarchs return to action at William & Mary on Sunday in their 2005 regular season finale before returning home to host the 2005 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Field Hockey Tournament next weekend.