Oct. 15, 2008
NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion field hockey team opened up a seven-game homestand at the Powhatan Sports Complex Wednesday night with a 3-2 loss to No. 15 California.
While the Golden Bears took an early 1-0 lead, the Lady Monarchs were able to tie the game heading into intermission. California knocked in two goals in the second half and limited Old Dominion to just one shot, a goal by sophomore Amanda Bieber (Elizabethtown, Pa.). Bieber's goal would cut the ODU deficit to, 3-2, but the Golden Bears would not allow the Lady Monarch another look at the cage.
The loss drops Old Dominion to 6-8 overall. All of their eight losses have been at the hands of teams ranked in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Top 20 Poll. California, meanwhile, has won its last four contests and nine of their last ten outings, improving to 10-2 overall.
California opened up scoring in the game's seventh minutes on a penalty corner. Kellie York on the insert directed the ball to Rachel Moffitt, currently fourth in the nation in assists. Moffitt stopped the ball for Katie Knoche for the strike and the Golden Bear's first goal of the night.
With a little under eight minutes remaining in the opening stanza, Old Dominion managed to tie the game. Senior Katelyn Smither (Suffolk, Va.) passed the ball from the right side baseline to the front of the California cage. Sophomore Samantha Richardson (Vancouver, B.C., Canada) found the gap in the Golden Bear defense for first goal of the 2008 season.
California struck three minutes into the second half for a lead it would not relinquish. Natalie Nurnberg gave the Golden Bears a 2-1 edge followed by a hard blast from the middle of the circle by Gwen Belomy six minutes later. Belomy's goal came off a rebound following a shot by Ashley Glosz that was saved by Old Dominion keeper Kelly Driscoll (West Chester, Pa.).
After the Golden Bears took its 3-1 advantage, Old Dominion immediately struck back. Richardson, who tallied the Lady Monarchs' first goal, tapped the ball to the front of the Golden Bear goal where Beiber was waiting to send it in with 22 minutes left in the game. While Beiber's goal cut ODU's deficit to 3-2, her goal would be the only shot the Lady Monarchs would record in the half. The Golden Bears would hold Old Dominion at bay the rest of the way.
Driscoll posted eight saves in the loss. California's Kelly Knoche posted one stop.
Old Dominion was outshot 17-3 and outcornered 8-2.
The Lady Monarchs will return to action on Friday night against No. 2 Maryland. Fans are encouraged to wear pink 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.