Oct. 14, 2008
Video - California
Gametracker - California
ABOUT OLD DOMINION: The Lady Monarchs (6-7 overall, 4-1 CAA) return to the Powhatan Sports Complex embarking on a seven-game homestand to close out the 2008 regular season. Old Dominion opened last weekend with its third shutout of the season with a 2-0 victory at Hofstra, but then saw a five-game win streak come to a halt with a 3-0 loss at the hands of No. 17 Drexel. Senior Katelyn Smither, who scored her second game-winner of the season in the win over the Pride, continues to lead the Lady Monarchs with five goals and 10 points. Sophomore Loran Hatch is second on the stat sheet with two goals, three assists, and seven points. Senior goaltender Kelly Driscoll ranks second in the CAA with 87 saves. She also ranks second in the CAA with a .791 save percentage and is also positing a 1.88 goals against average.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA: The 15th ranked Golden Bears of California enter Wednesday's contest with an 9-2 overall mark, including four shutouts, and a perfect 5-0 record in the NorPac Conference. The Golden Bears have won their last three contests and eight of their last nine. Both of Cal's loss have been in overtime. Ashley Glosz leads the Bears with 20 points stemming from nine goals and two assists. Kellie York and Andrea Lo are second on the squad in scoring, each with 15 points from four goal sand seven assists. Rachel Moffitt is currently fourth nationally in assists with 12. Kelly Knoche has seen a majority of time in the cage and is holding a .756 save percentage and 1.12 goals against average.
LAST MEETING VS. CALIFORNIA: It has been nearly 11 years since the Lady Monarchs and Golden Bears have met on the pitch. Old Dominon and California last squared off on October 19, 1997 at Foreman Field with the Lady Monarchs 9-0 at Forman Field. Kim Miller led the Lady Monarchs with two goals and three assists.
ALL TIME VS. CALIFORNIA: ODU is 2-0 vs. California.
HOME SWEET HOME: California will be the first of seven consecutive home games for the Lady Monarchs. Also up this week, Old Dominion will host top-ranked Maryland on Friday, October 17th and Duke on Sunday, October 19th. Next weekend, the Lady Monarchs will entertain league leader and No. 6 James Madison and Virginia Commonwealth and wrap up the 2008 regular season in two week with North Carolina, in the annual scholarship game, and William & Mary.
THINK PINK: Fans are encouraged to wear pink to Friday night's Maryland contest as the Old Dominion field hockey team honors breast cancer awareness month. Both the Lady Monarchs and Terps will be sporting pink uniforms from Under Armour. Additionally, the Tidewater Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation will be on hand to pass out information on breast cancer awareness and the Old Dominion chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha will hand out pink ribbons in honor those who have battled and are battling the disease.
IN THE POLLS - NFHCA: Old Dominion enters the week unranked in the NFHCA Top 20 Poll. Eight Lady Monarch's opponents are currently ranked in the poll's Top 20 with three other opponents receiving votes. Members of this week's Top 10 that grace the ODU schedule including No. 1 Syracuse, No. 2 Maryland, , No. 5 Duke, No. 6 James Madison, No. 7 North Carolina, and No. 10 Penn State.
NEARING THE HALF CENTURY MARK: Head coach Beth Anders enters this week's games with a 498-99-7 overall record, needing just two victories to become the first Division I coach and second field hockey coach overall to reach the 500 win milestone.