Nov. 12, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a physical and see-saw game, the Old Dominion field hockey team prevailed with a 5-4 victory over host Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Senior Darcy Pinchbeck (Suffolk, Va.) would score what would be the eventual game-winner in the 57th minute of play to send the Lady Monarchs to tomorrow's second round match-up against Michigan at 2:00 p.m.
The Lady Monarchs, the fourth seed of the tournament and ranked third in the final STX/NFHCA Poll released on Tuesday, improved to 18-5 overall. Meanwhile, Ohio State, who received an at-large bid to the tournament finishes the season at 15-7.
Neither team managed more than a one goal lead in the contest and the game was tied at 3-3 at halftime. Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie of the Year Denise Admiraal (Heiloo, Holland) opened up scoring in the game at third minute of play as she was able to collect a rebound off a penalty corner attempt. However moments later, the Buckeyes tied the game and then took the lead.
Ohio State's Saskia Mueller converted a penalty stroke eight minutes into the game to net the score at 1-1 and then Lucy Clayton converted a Buckeye penalty corner attempt to put her team up 2-1 by the 13th minute. From then on, the two teams would continue to trade goals throughout the half.
Old Dominion struck again three minutes later on Admiraal's second goal of the day. Admiraal broke open in the middle of the shooting circle and fired into the back of the cage to tie the game at 2-2. However, less than a minute later the Buckeyes struck again to take a 3-2 edge, this time as Yesenia Luces deflected a pass into the cage.
Pinchbeck tied the game at 3-3 with her first goal of the afternoon and the final of the first half, coming at the 19th minute. The Suffolk, Virginia native collected another rebound off a Lady Monarch penalty corner attempt.
CAA Player of the Year, senior Janelle Engle (Mt. Joy, Pa.), converted the day's second penalty corner attempt to give Old Dominion a 4-3 edge seven minutes into the second half of action. However, the lead was short lived as Luces captured her second goal of the day racing into the center of the circle and getting the ball just over the top of ODU netminder Mary Cate Gordon (Oreland, Pa.).In the 57th minute of action, Old Dominion managed to penetrate the shooting circle for an attempt on net. Admiraal tried to reverse the ball as she headed to the left corner of the net, but the shot was not hard enough allowing the Buckeye's goalkeeper, Lindsay Williams to kick the ball out of play. However, Pinchbeck intercepted the loose ball and send it sailing into the back of the Ohio State net for the 5-4 advantage the Lady Monarchs would manage to hold to until the close of regulation.
Gordon (Oreland, Pa.) made two stops in net for the Lady Monarchs, while her counterpart, Williams, posted six saves in the loss for the Buckeyes.
Old Dominion outshot Ohio State, 18-8. The Lady Monarchs held a 13-3 advantage in the shot column in the first half and both teams managed to fire off five in half number two. In the penalty corner column, Old Dominion held an 8-3 advantage.
The Lady Monarchs return to action tomorrow in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Old Dominion will take on Michigan at 2:00 p.m. for a berth to the 2005 NCAA Final Four.