Sept. 4, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- In what has become one of the most premiere matches in collegiate field hockey, the top ranked Maryland Terrapins edged out the fourth ranked Old Dominion Lady Monarchs, 1-0. The defending national champions scored with 8:04 left in the game to claim victory.
The loss is the first for the Lady Monarchs in 2006 as they fall to 3-1 overall. The Terps meanwhile improve their record to 4-0. The rematch in the home-and-home series will occur on October 14th at Foreman Field.
In four of the last five games, the winner of the Maryland-Old Dominion match has been decided by one goal or less, including last year's NCAA semifinal match.
Maryland's Paula Infante used a long pass to draw out Lady Monarch netminder Kelly Driscoll (West Chester, Pa.) out of net. With Driscoll out near the circle, Infante's pass reached the Terps' Nicole Muracco who fed Kim Ziegler the ball for a shot on open net.
The Terps outshot the Lady Monarchs 11-8. The first half saw Maryland control the offense outshooting ODU 8-2, however in the second half, the Lady Monarchs held the advantage 4-3. Junior Shannon Mobley (Va. Beach, Va.) led the Lady Monarchs in the shot department with two, both of them coming on net.
Maryland outcornered Old Dominion 5-1 with all five Terp penalty corner attempts coming in half number one, while the Lady Monarchs' lone corner opportunity came in half number two.
Driscoll posted a career-high five saves in net. Kathryn Masson stopped three Lady Monarch shots on net.
The Lady Monarchs return home next weekend for their first appearance at Foreman Field this season. Saturday will be Old Dominion's home opener as they host #19 Richmond at 3:00 p.m. Sunday the Lady Monarchs host #8 Michigan at 2:00 p.m.
Note: Michigan and Richmond will play in a neutral site game on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. at Foreman Field.