Oct. 5, 2008
NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion field hockey team put together its fourth straight win and moved to within one game of .500 in Sunday afternoon's 2-1 victory over Delaware.
The win improved the Lady Monarchs to 5-6 overall and 3-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). Old Dominion remains undefeated at home at 3-0 as they begin a seven-game home stand in two weeks. The Fightin' Blue Hens, who had won their previous two outings, including Friday night's double overtime win at William & Mary, dropped to 3-8 overall and 2-2 in league play.
Sophomore Loran Hatch (Green Lane, Pa.) captured the game-winner on her second goal of the season. The goal, which came off a rebound following a shot by sophomore Amanda Beiber (Elizabethtown, Pa.), came 19 minutes into the game.
After neither team found the back of either cage the rest of the first half, junior Alyschia Conn (Peach Bottom, Pa.) added in an insurance goal in the second half for her third goal of the weekend. Conn, who tallied both goals in Friday night's 2-0 win over Towson, registered her goal eight minutes into the second half off the option on a penalty corner. Smither, who stopped the ball on the insert, fed the ball to sophomore Loren Hatch (Green Lane, Pa.) towards the side of the left post. After dribbling the ball to the front of the left post, Hatch passed to Conn in front of the Delaware goal, who among Fightin' Blue Hen defenders, managed to find the opening for ODU's second goal of the afternoon.
Delaware broke up the potential shutout late in the second stanza. With under three minutes remaining in the game, the Blue Hens lit up the scoreboard on a penalty corner. Leading scorer Florence Sijbrandij, on a direct shot on a penalty corner, found the back of Lady Monarch cage. Missy Woodie and Rae Everson were credited with the assists.
The Blue Hens controlled the ball following its goal looking to send the game into overtime, however the Old Dominion defense held for the win.
Old Dominion outshot Delaware, 12-4, with the Blue Hens' only shot in the second half coming off their penalty corner goal. On penalty corners, the Lady Monarchs held a 8-2 advantage.
In goal, senior Kelly Driscoll (West Chester, Pa.) made three saves in the victory, while Delaware's Nikki Roads made eight saves
The Old Dominion field hockey team hits the road for the final time next weekend. The Lady Monarchs travel to Hofstra on Friday, October 10th and Drexel, Sunday, October 12th. Following next weekend's meeting with the Pride and Dragon, Old Dominion will play their final seven regular season games at home beginning with California on Wednesday, October 15th.