Oct. 17, 2008
NORFOLK, Va. -- Junior Kathleen Shea (Elizaville, N.Y.) put Old Dominion on the scoreboard late in the first half and the Lady Monarch defense kept the nation's number two offense at bay for 58 minutes, but the No. 2 Maryland Terrapins scored twice in the latter moments of the second half for a 2-1 victory over the Lady Monarchs in field hockey action on a rainy Friday evening at the Powhatan Sports Complex.
Old Dominion, who was looking to snap a seven-game Terp win streak and avenge an 8-1 loss earlier in the year, fell to 6-9 overall. Maryland, winners in their last five contests, improved to 13-2 overall.
The Terps' second-ranked offense had several opportunities at the Old Dominion cage in the first half, but each of the five first half Maryland penalty corners were either blocked by Lady Monarchs defenders or saved by goalkeeper Kelly Driscoll (West Chester, Pa.).
On Old Dominion's first penalty corner and true offensive opportunity, senior Katelyn Smither (Suffolk, Va.) directed her strike at the Terp goal, where it was saved by Alicia Grater. The ball bounced off the Terp netminder among a host of black and white shirts when Shea got her stick onto the ball and tipped it into the goal with 3:55 left in the half.
Maryland had two late looks at the Lady Monarch cage, however Alexis Pappas' shot was blocked and Nicole Muracco's shot was saved by Driscoll as time in the first half drew to a close.
The Old Dominion defense continued to frustrate the Terp offense throughout much of the second half with penalty corner shots being blocked. Maryland, however, did find the gap at the 58 minute mark as a cross from one of the nation's leaders in assists, Katie O'Donnell, went past the front of the Lady Monarch goal for an Emma Thomas score near the right post.
Six minutes later, Muracco would capture the game-winner. From the top of the circle, O'Donnell helped draw out Driscoll from the cage and found a driving Muracco racing towards the goal for the tally.
Old Dominion had a late chance to tie the game, but a shot from Smither off a penalty corner sailed wide right of the Maryland goal.
Maryland outshot Old Dominion, 10-3, and held a 6-2 advantage in penalty corners.
The Old Dominion field hockey team will return to action on Sunday, October 19th against No. 5 Duke at 1:00 p.m. as they close out the home-and-home series with the Blue Devils.