Nov. 2, 2008
NORFOLK, Va. -- The Old Dominion field hockey team concluded the 2008 regular season capturing a 4-2 victory over William & Mary, giving head coach Beth Anders her 500th career win.
The victory gives Old Dominion a 8-12 overall record, a 6-2 mark in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), and the No. 3 seed at next week's CAA Tournament. The Lady Monarchs will open tournament play on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
Anders becomes the first Division I coach and second collegiate field hockey coach to reach the half-century milestone. In her 25 years of leading the Lady Monarchs, she has compiled a 500-104-7 overall record along with nine national championships. Only Jan Hutchinson of Division II Bloomsburg holds more field hockey wins (564) than Anders.
Senior Katelyn Smither (Suffolk, Va.), who was honored on "Senior Day" prior to the start of the game, led the Lady Monarchs with a pair of goals.
Smither captured the day's first tally five minutes into the game. After shots by freshman Kathryn Kirk (Lititz, Pa.) and Hanna Warren (Green Lane, Pa.) bounced off Tribe goalkeeper Carrie Thompson and back into play, Smither got her stick on the third rebound to put ODU up, 1-0.
The Tribe, however, managed to tie the game as the squads ended the half tied at 1-1. In the 19th minute of play, William & Mary's Leah Zamesnik zipped down the left side of the field. Right before entering the circle, Zamesnik pass the ball to Mikala Savaides, who hit a blast into the right corner of the Lady Monarch cage.
Out of the intermission, Old Dominion collected three unanswered goals. Four minutes into the second half, Smither collected her second goal of the afternoon and her team-leading ninth tally of the year. Teammate Loran Hatch (Green Lane, Pa.) passed the ball from the right side of the circle to Smither, who in front of the Tribe goal, hit it the ball.
Sophomore Amanda Bieber (Elizabethtown, Pa.) gave the Lady Monarchs a 3-1 edge six minutes later. Bieber was able to tip a hit by Smither into the back of the Tribe cage.
Old Dominion went up 4-1 in the 54th minute of action. On a penalty corner opportunity, freshman Rachel Stream (Poolesville, Md.) hit the ball to the center of the circle, where junior Kathleen Shea (Elizaville, N.Y.) deflected the ball over the William & Mary keeper for a three goal lead.
The Tribe cut its deficit to, 4-2, with just over six minutes remaining, but it would be the final score of the game. Jenna Cinalli managed to collect a rebound off a saved shot from teammate Wesley Drew for the goal.
After being outshot, 5-4, in the first half, Old Dominion ended the game outshooting William & Mary 17-10. The Lady Monarchs also held a 9-7 edge in penalty corners.
Netminder Kelly Driscoll (West Chester, Pa.) concluded the game with four saves and has now totaled 135 for the season. Thompson made nine saves in the loss.
The Lady Monarch field hockey team will begin its quest for a CAA title on Thursday at the former National Training Center in Virginia Beach. Stay tuned to ODUSports.com and CAASports.com for more information.