April 13, 2007
TOWSON, Md. -- Freshman Ashley Kellogg (Downingtown, Pa.) put away a career-high three goals and junior netminder Sara Larson (Sylvan Lake, Mich.) posted 16 saves, just one shy of her career mark, as the Old Dominion women's lacrosse team recorded a 9-8 victory over Towson in a thriller at Johnny Unitas Stadium on Friday afternoon.
The victory improves the Lady Monarchs to 5-5 overall and 2-1 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action. The Tigers meanwhile drop to 4-7 overall and 1-3 in league play.
Kellogg led all scorers with three tallies as one of five Lady Monarchs finding the back of the Towson pipes. Leading scorer, senior midfielder Caroline Jacobs (Gaithersburg, Md.), and fellow clasmmate and midfielder Katie Veneziale (Downingtown, Pa.) each put away two. Towson was led by Hillary Fratzke, Meggie McNamara and Nikki Marcinkik all with two apiece.
In addition to making 16 saves on the day, Larson also posted a career-high seven groundballs. The Tigers did manage to edge out the Lady Monarchs in the category 30-27. Sophomore Jessica Noone (Manassas, Va.) also scooped up four in the victory.
A trio of Lady Monarchs registered three caused turnovers in senior Kristen Truax (Daleville, Va.), Jacobs, and Veneziale. In all, Old Dominion tied a season mark with 14 caused turnovers.
The first half was a low scoring affair with the game tied at 3-3 at the intermission. It took nearly 12 minutes before anyone got scoring underway with the Lady Monarchs finally breaking the 0-0 stalemate on Kellogg's first goal. However, the Tigers gained the lead by rattling off three unanswered goals, including back-to-back goals during a 37 second span.
Towson was holding on to a 3-1 advantage before senior attacker Ashley Stanwick (Aquasco, Md.) halted the Lady Monarch scoring drought at the 7:51 mark. Stanwick's goal would begin a four-goal scoring run by the Lady Monarchs that would extend into the second half.
Following Stanwick's goal, Kelly Kimener (Oaktown, Va.) would round out the first half scoring putting away the first of her two goals with 4:39 left for the 3-3 tie at intermission.
The Lady Monarch scoring continued into the second half as it opened with two consecutive ODU goals. Old Dominion went up 5-3 just over two and a half minutes into the second stanza. Kimener netted her second and Veneziale, on a free position, gave the Lady Monarchs the two goal cushion with 27:25 remaining.
Towson however struck back and tied the game. Nearly 30 seconds after Veneziale's goal, Towson's Hillary Fratzke would collect back-to-back goals in a minute and a half span.
It was not long though before Old Dominion found the back of the Tiger pipes. Jacobs needed only 45 seconds after Fratzke's second goal to return the lead back to the Lady Monarchs and this time for good. Jacobs' goal was the first of three unanswered Lady Monarch goals, which were followed by two from Kellogg's. Kellog's second goal at the 20:26 mark gave the Lady Monarchs a 8-5 edge with 20:26 left in the game.
The game was not over as the Tigers would pull to within one. Two goals, the second from Marcinik, would allow Towson to trail just 8-7 with 12:45 left.
It would be another nine minutes before another goal was scored and it would be Jacobs netting the eventual game-winner. With 3:07 left Jacob's unassisted goal, her 23rd of the season, had Old Dominion with a 9-7 lead.
Towson did manage to once again pull to within one. With 48 seconds left in the game, McNamara captured her second tally in a scramble in front of the Lady Monarch net. However on the ensuing draw control, Old Dominion took control of the ball. The Lady Monarchs had taken enough time off the clock that when Towson gained the ball on a turnover, it was not enough time for the Tigers to race downfield for any offensive opportunity.
The Old Dominion women's lacrosse team returns to action on Sunday, April 15th when they travel to No. 19 (IWLCA)/20 (Inside Lacrosse) Delaware for a noon match-up.