Sept. 17, 2006
DURHAM, N.C. -- The third-ranked Old Dominion field hockey team overcame a 3-1 halftime deficit and forced double overtime to earn a 4-3 victory over fifth-ranked Duke on Sunday afternoon at Williams Field. Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week senior Caroline Nichols (Va. Beach, Va.) sent home the game-winner with 5:55 remaining in the second overtime session.
The win is the fourth straight for the Lady Monarchs who improve to 7-1 overall. The victory also marked the third win this season over a top ten opponent with #7 Penn State and #4 North Carolina also falling to Old Dominion. The Dukes suffered their second loss to a top three team and fell to 6-2 overall.
Nine and a half minutes into the game, Duke's Marian Dickinson recorded her first of three goals goal off a rebounded shot. Less than two minutes later, the sophomore scored her second goal of the day on an assist from senior Hilary Linton, as the Blue Devils went up 2-0.
Old Dominion leading scorer Dana Sensenig (Denver, Pa.) got the Lady Monarchs on the board, scoring at the 16:34 mark to bring ODU within one, 2-1.
However, Dickinson struck again just before halftime, as she netted her third goal on an assist by Ashley Pultorak for the hattrick putting the Blue Devils up 3-1.
In the second half, the Lady Monarchs defense clamped down and did not allow Duke to score while registering two goals for force the game into overtime. Sensenig tallied her second goal of the afternoon less than six minutes into the half, while junior Shannon Mobley (Va. Beach, Va.) managed to tie the game at 3-3 with 16:50 left in regulation.
Neither team managed to find the back of the cage in the first 15 minute overtime forcing double overtime.
Nichols posted the game-winner, her second of the season, to add to the Lady Monarch win column.
The Lady Monarchs return to action on the road again next week traveling to Princeton on Saturday, September 23rd and to Drexel for the CAA opener on Sunday, September 24th.