Nov. 1, 2007
NORFOLK, Va. -- The Lady Monarchs suffered a 1-4 loss in the final game of the season at the hands of the top-ranked team in the CAA, William & Mary (14-4-1, 9-1-1). ODU played right with one of the best defensive teams in the nation for the majority of the match, but were unable to convert offensively. Both seniors contributed heavily in the final game of their careers, as Lisa McKenzie scored only the ninth goal William & Mary has given up all season and Beth Messier made several fantastic tackles and possession changes.
William & Mary would strike first, in the 24th minute, as Kaitlin O'Connor would score off a corner kick, knocked away by ODU junior goalkeeper Lauren Tupman. She was able to rid the box of the ball, but was screened by the crowd in the box from the corner kick as O'Connor came in from about 25 yards and knocked it home.
The Lady Monarchs would answer quickly, under three minutes later, with just the fourth conference goal allowed on the season by the Tribe. Sophomore Kirstin Walker corraled the ball at the top of the box among several Tribe defenders, but was able to get the ball to McKenzie. The senior turned to the net and fired, finding the twine on the right side of the goal. The goal was her sixth on the season, establishing a career-high. Walker's assist was the second of the season.
As the first half played on, the ODU defense stopped several runs at the goal, including a tackle by Beth Messier near the sideline that stopped a potential three on one opportunity. However, William & Mary would capitalize on a transition in the 39th minute of play. Krissy Vornadore received the ball on the sideline and dribbled down to the corner. She was able to get a cross into the middle of the field where sophomore Kellie Jenkins would put it home for the game-winner.
It looked like the Tribe would score again, when the league leader in goals, Claire Zimmeck was one-on-one with the keeper in the box. Zimmeck was stopped, though, by a terrific slide tackle from the trailing sophomore Dani Hammer.
Returning from the locker room down 1-2, ODU stepped up the offensive intensity, outshooting the Tribe 7-4 in the second half. The William & Mary keepers, though, would make three saves, keeping ODU off the scoreboard in the frame.
The third goal would come in the 52nd minute of play, as Danielle Collins would head in a corner on the back post. The assist came from Meredith Brown on the seventh corner kick of the night. The Tribe would finish out the scoring on Kellie Jenkins second goal of the night. Emily Kittleson served her the ball in the box and Jenkins took the shot as she collided with Tupman. The save was good enough to slow down the shot, but the ball trickled into the goal for the fourth score of the night.
The seniors finished their careers at Old Dominion playing well in the game. McKenzie's goal puts her tied for 7th in career goals at ODU and tied for 6th in career points. She also ranks 7th in career assists in her four years at ODU. Messier's final game was a microcosm of her entire career. She left it all on the field and was a catalyst for the defense all night.
The Lady Monarchs conclude the season with a 7-8-2 record overall and a 3-7-1 CAA mark.
WM 2-2=4ODU 1-0=1
23:56 WM O'Connor, Kaitlin (2) unassisted26:41 ODU McKenzie, Lisa (6) from Kirstin Walker38:48 WM Jenkins, Kellie (3) from Krissy Vornadore51:33 WM Collins, Danielle (4) from Meredith Brown68:47 WM Jenkins, Kellie (4) from Emily Kittleson
Shots: WM (10), ODU (8)Corners: WM (7), ODU (0)Fouls: WM (7), ODU (12)Saves: WM: Walker (2), Loos (1) ODU: Tupman (1), Owen (0)