Sept. 19, 2008
Box Score
Box Score in PDF Format
NORFOLK, Va. -- Old Dominion senior Katie Watson scored her first career hat trick with three of the four Lady Monarch goals Friday night, to lead ODU (6-1) past undefeated Akron (5-1). ODU's leading scorer senior Shavon Knight added two assists in the game and senior Jenni Purdum also scored in the game for the final tally. It was ODU's fourth shutout on the season.
Watson led the offense for ODU, taking eight shots, five on-goal with the three scores. From start to finish, the Lady Monarchs sent a barrage of shots at Akron keeper Jenn Wolbert, who posted 19 saves in the contest. As a team, Old Dominion outshot the Zips 33-7, including a 23-4 differential in shots on-net.
Watson started the scoring in the 21st minute off an assist from Knight. Knight made an aggressive move to push the ball through her defender's legs and made a quick pass across the goal mouth and Wolbert just four yards out to Watson's feet, who touched it in for the goal.
Just 2:22 later, senior Janna Pearson was defended by two Zips in the box, split them, but was pushed down before she was able to get a shot off. The foul in the box awarded Old Dominion a penalty kick and Watson nailed it to put ODU up 2-0 in the 23rd minute of play.
In the second half, ODU kept pounding on the offensive end, with senior reserve Jenni Purdum doing much of the damage. Purdum took seven shots, including six on-goal. Just 23 seconds after Watson notched her hat trick with a laser from 20 yards out, Purdum scored her first career goal in the 64th minute of play to give ODU the final score of 4-0. Knight assisted on the play as she run her team-high season point total to 18.
Seniors Lauren Tupman and Colby Owen combined for the shutout, ODU's fourth of the season. The tandem each saved a pair in the matchup as Tupman lowered her goals against average to 0.75 and Owen saw her first action of 2008 blanking the Zips in the second half.
Old Dominion senior defenders Marilee Mastaler and Elizabeth Brewster played nearly the whole game, as they helped maintain the Lady Monarchs stingy reputation. Through seven games, the defense has allowed seven or fewer shots in all but one game.
Akron was led offensively by MAC Player of the Week Jordan Baranowski with three shots, including two on-goal. Britni Back and Heather Rains also put one shot on goal in the match.
ODU returns to the pitch Sunday afternoon as they host NC State (7-1), who suffered their first loss in double overtime to William & Mary tonight. The Wolfpack have not lost two straight non-conference games since 2004, while ODU boasts a 16-game non-conference winning streak at home dating back to 2004. Kick-off is slated for 1:00 pm.
AKRON 0-0=0ODU 2-2=420:30 ODU Watson, Katie (4) from Knight22:52 ODU Watson, Katie (5) on penalty kick63:23 ODU Watson, Katie (6) unassisted63:46 ODU Purdum, Jenni (1) from Knight
Shots: AKRON (7), ODU (33)Corner Kicks: AKRON (1), ODU (10)Saves: AKRON-Wolbert (19); ODU-Tupman (2), Owen (2)