Sept. 12, 2009
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Senior forward Anna Kern (Virginia Beach, Va.) posted a goal, but the No. 9 Old Dominion field hockey team could not overcome a large first half deficit, falling to No. 7 Michigan State 4-1 Saturday afternoon in Syracuse, N.Y.
Senior goalkeeper Kelly Driscoll (West Chester, Pa.) registered a season-high 11 saves for the Lady Monarchs, who fall to 2-4 on the year. Manouk Vernij tallied a game-high two goals for the Spartans, who improve to 4-1 this season.
Michigan State controlled play for much of the first half, outshooting Old Dominion 14-3 in the stanza. Vernij broke a scoreless tie 19 minutes into the contest and she was followed by teammate Chantae Miller, who also scored to put the Spartans up 2-0. MSU would add another goal as Vernij notched her sixth goal of the season to send the Spartans into the break up by three.
Michigan State would add another goal five minutes into the second half to grab a commanding 4-0 lead. Kern broke MSU's momentum 10 minutes into the second period as she scored her second goal of the season. Kern corralled the loose ball in the front of the cage and slipped it by MSU goalkeeper Elissa Unger. Old Dominion garnered some late opportunities, but could not get any closer than three goals the rest of the way.
Old Dominion will remain on the road next weekend, taking to No. 2 North Carolina and No. 11 Duke. The Lady Monarchs will battle the Tar Heels on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. and the Blue Devils on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m.
-ODU-