Nov. 13, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Old Dominion field hockey team is Final Four Bound for the 16th time in school history as the Lady Monarchs defeated Michigan, 3-2, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament held on the campus of Ohio State.
Old Dominion (19-5), who last appeared in the NCAA semifinals in 2002, will travel to Louisville, Kentucky and the University of Louisville next weekend to take on Maryland. The Terps, whom the Lady Monarchs split contests with during the regular season, are the top seed in this year's bracket and advanced to the semifinals with a 4-0 victory over American on their home turf. Also joining Old Dominion at the Final Four is defending champion Wake Forest and Duke.
The Lady Monarch never trailed in the contest, but the score was tied at 1-1 entering the half. Old Dominion struck first at the 21st minute as senior Darcy Pinckbeck (Suffolk, Va.) received a feed from CAA All-Rookie team member Nicolien van Nispen (Bilthoven, Holland) from the middle of the circle to open scoring. Four minutes later though, the Wolverines struck back as Erin Dallas tipped a pass from Mary Fox into the corner of the Lady Monarch cage. Twice Michigan found its way into the circle and looked like they had found the back of the Old Dominion cage, but both times were ruled no goal.
Two minutes into the second half, Old Dominion struck again to take a lead they would never relinquish. On the first penalty corner of the second half of action, striker Janelle Engle (Mt. Joy, Pa.) passed the ball back to inserter Dana Sensenig (Denver, Pa.) who fired it into the Michigan net.
Old Dominion took a 3-1 edge at the 42nd minute. In a loose ball scramble in front of the cage, freshman All-CAA member Katelyn Smither (Suffolk, Va.) was the Old Dominion player to get a stick on the ball and tip it in.
Michigan cut their deficit to one less than four minutes later on the option on the penalty corner. Kara Lentz passed off to Stephanie Hoyer who was waiting along the right side of the ODU cage to tip the ball in.
The Lady Monarchs though would keep control of the ball for much of the time left in regulation for the win.
Old Dominion outshot Michigan, 16-6, and outcornered their opponent, 6-4. Senior Mary Cate Gordon (Oreland, Pa.) registered one save in the ODU victory, while the Wolverine's Beth Riley collected six stops in the loss.
The Lady Monarch field hockey team is the only Division I team to make appearance in all 25 NCAA Tournaments since its inception in 1981. Old Dominion has captured an NCAA record nine national titles with the last coming in 2000.