April 30, 2009
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Playing from behind the entire game, ODU staged a late comeback in the final five minutes, but it would prove not enough as the second seeded University of Delaware defeated the third seeded Lady Monarchs, 8-6 in the 2009 CAA Tournament Semi-Final. Old Dominion pulled within one goal with 3:16 remaining in the game, but the Fightin' Blue Hens held on for the win and will advance to play fourth seed Towson University in the CAA Championship game Saturday, May 2 at 1:00 pm.
In what was a battle between the First and Second Team All-CAA goalkeepers, the game would end in one of the lowest scoring games in recent CAA Tournament history, with just 14 goals scored and 26 saves made between the two.
With scoring chances limited on both sides early in the first half, Delaware took the edge, scoring four of the first six to take a 4-2 lead. Four different players scored in the early run for the Fightin' Blue Hens, with Emily Schaknowski adding an assist in the early going.
Ashley Kellogg found Saratu Dodo cutting through the middle for the first Lady Monarch score of the game and with 18:34 remaining, found senior Jessica Noone for the second.
CAA Player of the Year Kelly Kimener scored two goals for ODU and Delaware's senior captain Deb Sloan added her second in the final ten minutes of the first half to pull Old Dominion within one at the break, 5-4. ODU had a pair of scoring opportunities with under a minute remaining, but First Team All-CAA goalkeeper Jessica Cerveny saved both to hold the Lady Monarchs to just four goals in the first half.
Old Dominion caused six turnovers in the first half, while in their possession held onto the ball extremely well, giving the ball away just twice in the first thirty minutes. Cerveny made seven saves on ODU's 14 shots, while CAA Rookie of the Year Sarah Geary made five saves on ten shots on goal in the first for Old Dominion.
The Delaware defense managed to shut ODU out for the first 24 minutes of the second half, while scoring two goals to pull ahead by three, 7-4. CAA Coach of the Year Sue Stahl called a timeout with 6:02 remaining after the Stephanie Allen goal for Delaware, and on the ensuing possession, ODU scored just 20 seconds later. Rookie Lisa Bernardini grabbed the draw control and cut inside, finding freshman Rebecca Hartrum for the goal.
Geary stepped up on the next draw as Allen had another shot on goal, but the rookie goalkeeper denied the attempt. ODU cleared to Noone, who took it herself all the way around the crease and in for the goal to get Old Dominion back within one.
The late comeback would be stopped though on the next offensive possession as the Lady Monarchs were called offsides. Delaware stalled for the remaing three minutes and got an empty net goal from Sloan to pull back ahead, 8-6. With 30 seconds remaining, Geary made two sensational saves on late one-on-ones, but it was not enough as the Lady Monarchs fell by the 8-6 final.
Seniors Jessica Noone and Kelly Kimener had two goals each for ODU, while junior Ashley Kellogg added two helpers, but was held without a goal for just the second time this season.
Sloan led the way for Delaware, with four goals, while rookie Stephanie Allen's late in the game would prove to be the difference. She also had the gamewinner against ODU earlier this season.
ODU season concludes after posting an 11-5 overall record for the 2009 season.