Sept. 28, 2008
WILMINGTON, N.C. - The ODU Lady Monarchs (8-2-0/1-1-0) lost a 2-1 decision on the road to the UNC Wilmington Seahawks (5-4-1/1-1-0) on Sunday, halting a three-game winning streak. Jenni Purdum scored an equalizing goal in the first half, her third goal of the season, off an assist from Jodi Knorowski, but the Seahawks would score the winner in the 58th minute of play off the foot of Sarah Matthews on an assist by leading scorer Kelly Renkin. ODU will stay on the road for two more, as they will face Drexel and Delaware in CAA action next weekend.
Wilmington controlled the start of the game, taking five shots before ODU took one, including the first goal of the game. In the 15th minute of the game, Sydney Rigsbee took a shot from the right side of the box, managing to get a low bouncer through a host of other players into the left side of the goal.
ODU would rebound, taking four shots in the next fifteen minutes. Knorowski and Purdum put together a pair of excellent passes to Kelsey Williams in the 33rd minute, and Williams knocked a shot off of a defender to set up a corner kick. Just moments later, Knorowski would hook up with Purdum for the only Lady Monarch goal of the game, as Purdum knocked home Knorowski's corner off her knee to even the score.
In the second half, ODU would take control offensively, outshooting the Seahawks 5-3, as the Lady Monarch defense continued their season-long trend of stingy defense after the break. In the 58th minute, though, a long ball from the Seahawks defense found Renkin streaking into the box. Renkin took a shot that forced ODU goalkeeper Lauren Tupman to make a fantastic diving save, but the deflection went right to the feet of Matthews, who put it home for the gamewinner.
The game would be played on the Seahawks half the rest of the way, as ODU had several offensive looks in the waning minutes. With just over 12 minutes remaining, Knorowski sent a line drive toward the upper-right 90, but it was just inches too tall as it glanced off the crossbar. With under eight minutes to go, senior Katie Watson sent a cross into the box just past a leaping Shavon Knight, cutting in front of the keeper. ODU would have at least two more solid chances at shots, but were unable to capitalize.
It was the first time all season ODU was held to under 10 shots in a game, and also the first time the team was outshot by their opponent, as the Seahawks held a 10-9 advantage in chances.
ODU returns to the field on Friday, as they travel to Drexel for a game at 7:00 pm. The team then will play Delaware on Sunday, at 1:00 pm.
ODU 1-0=1UNCW 1-1=214:35 UNCW Rigsbee, Sydney from Matthews32:54 ODU Purdum, Jenni (3) from Knorowski57:45 UNCW Matthews, Sarah from RenkinShots: ODU (9), UNCW (10)Corner Kicks: ODU (6), UNCW (4)Saves: ODU-Tupman (2); UNCW-Follett (0)