Oct. 24, 2008
Gametracker - James Madison
Video - James Madison
Gametracker - VCU
Video - VCU
NOTE: Video will not be available if there is inclement weather at the Powhatan Sports Complex.
ABOUT OLD DOMINION: The Lady Monarchs (6-10 overall/ 4-1 CAA) resume their conference schedule this weekend with crucial match-ups against CAA leader James Madison University and rival Virginia Commonwealth University. Old Dominion is currently on a four-game losing streak recently falling 2-1 to both No. 2 Maryland and No. 5 Duke. Senior Katelyn Smither continues to lead the offense with five goals, one assist and ten points. Sophomore forward Loran Hatch is second on the team with two goals, three assists and seven points. Junior Hanna Warren is tied with Hatch with three assists on the year. Senior goaltender Kelly Driscoll ranks in the top five of the CAA in saves, goals against average, and save percentage. She remains second in the CAA with 105 saves, fifth with a 1.97 goals against average and third with a .791 save percentage.
ABOUT JAMES MADISION: The No. 7 Dukes of James come to Norfolk with a record of 13-2 overall, 5-0 CAA, and are in first place in the conference. James Madison is coming off a 1-0 loss to No. 7 North Carolina, which saw the Duke's 11-game win streak come to a halt. The 11-game win streak was a school record. Senior midfielder/back Lauren Walls leads the JMU offense with 12 goals and 30 points. Her 12 goals are second in the CAA behind Christina Boarman of Towson's 16 tallies. Walls' 30 points is also third in the CAA. Senior midfielder/forward Melissa Stefaniak is second on the team with 23 points and seven assists. Junior netminder Kelsey Cutchins is among the top goalkeepers in the nation. She ranks second in the nation with a .750 goals against average and is forth nationally with a .807 save percentage. Additionally, Cutchins has eight shutouts on the year.
LAST MEETING WITH JAMES MADISON: The Lady Monarchs and Dukes last met on November 4, 2007 in the CAA Tournament Championship Game. The second-seeded Dukes upset the top seeded Lady Monarchs 1-0 in overtime to earn the automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Lauren Wells scored the game-winning goal two minutes into the extra period for the Dukes.Kelly Driscoll had eight saves for ODU, while Kelsey Cutchins had three saves for the Dukes in their second consecutive CAA championship win.
ALL-TIME VS. JAMES MADISON: ODU holds a 46-8 record over JMU. Last season, James Madison knocked off Old Dominion in the 2007 CAA championship game 1-0 in overtime, while the Lady Monarchs won the regular season meeting 3-1.
ABOUT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH: The Rams will take on William & Mary in Williamsburg Friday night before coming to Norfolk to face the Lady Monarchs. Entering the weekend, VCU is holding to a 4-11 overall record and still looking for its first conference win with an 0-5 CAA mark. The Rams, who are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak, are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at Richmond last Wednesday and a 4-0 loss to #6 JMU last Friday. Offensively, sophomore midfielder Marle van Dessel leads the Rams in scoring with 11 goals, five assists, and 29 points. Her 29 points ranks fourth in the CAA. Senior goalkeeper Laura Baker is tops in the CAA with 106 saves, which is just ahead of ODU's Kelly Driscoll's 105. Baker also has a 2.37 goals against average and a .741 save percentage.
LAST MEETING WITH VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH: The Lady Monarchs and Rams played a thriller on October 21, 2007. ODU was victorious 3-2 in overtime behind Titia Beek's game-winning penalty shot. The Lady Monarchs were leading 2-1 until VCU tied the game with 23 seconds remaining in regulation. Emily Guerra received a pass from Jenna Harris to tie the game for VCU. Three minutes into overtime, ODU was awarded a penalty shot that proved to be the game winner. In goal, Kelly Driscoll made four saves for ODU, while Brittany LoVullo made seven saves for VCU
ALL-TIME VS. VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH: Since 2003 ODU has won the past four meetings by a combined margin of 27-5. The Lady Monarch lead the all time series 37-4
IN THE POLLS - NFHCA: Old Dominion enters the week unranked in the NFHCA Top 20 Poll, but is receiving votes. Nine 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 Maryland, No. 3 Syracuse, No. 4 Duke, No. 5 North Carolina, No. 7 James Madison, and No. 9 Penn State.
NEARING THE HALF CENTURY MARK: Head coach Beth Anders enters this week's games with a 498-102-7 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.