Sept. 24, 2009
The Old Dominion field hockey team returns home this weekend after four consecutive road games. The Lady Monarchs, ranked No. 15 in the latest NFHCA polls, are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory at No. 10 Duke on September 20. ODU will play its first Colonial Athletic Association game on Friday against Northeastern at 5 p.m. before welcoming Boston University on Sunday for a 1 p.m. tilt. Both games will be played at the Powhatan Sports Complex.
GAME NOTES
TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE COUNTRYThe National Field Hockey Coaches Association has released its strength of schedule rankings and the Lady Monarchs rank No. 1. In total, ODU has played seven ranked teams, including six in the Top 10. Old Dominion has fared well against its ranked opponents thus far, picking up wins against Penn State and on the road against Duke.
MONARCHS HOLD THE EDGEOld Dominion has dominated the all-time series against both Northeastern and Boston University. The Lady Monarchs hold a 17-2-1 advantage against the Huskies in a series dating back to 1984. ODU has never lost the Terriers in 11 all-time meetings.
DRISCOLL IN GOALOld Dominion goalkeeper Kelly Driscoll tied her career-high with 14 saves against Duke last Sunday. She also posted 13 saves against No. 2 UNC last Friday. Her 27 save weekend is the most in a two-game stretch in her career.
SCOUTING NORTHEASTERNThe Huskies have won four of their last five games, including a 3-2 win against BIG EAST foe Providence last week. Nicola Graham scored her second-career goal to help lead Northeastern past the Friars. Graham was named the CAA's Rookie of the Week for her efforts. Northeastern has its four-game win streak snapped though by No. 11 UMass last Saturday. Despite outshooting and outcornering the Minutewomen, the Huskies fell 4-0.
A LOOK AT BOSTON UNIVERSITYBoston University has won back-to-back games after dropping three straight. The Terriers beat Sacred Heart 7-0 last weekend before picking up a road win against Dartmouth on the following day. Allie Dolce leads all BU players with 13 points on four goals and five assists.
UEBERROTH NAMED CAA CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEKSenior midfielder Katie Ueberroth was named the Colonial Athletic Association field hockey Co-Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. Ueberroth netted her first career hat trick on Sunday as the Lady Monarchs picked up a 3-2 overtime road win against No. 10 Duke. Ueberroth scored goals in each half and then tallied the game-winner in overtime to give ODU its second win over a team ranked No. 11 or better this season.
SCORING IN BUNCHESOld Dominion's seven goals against Villanova were the most scored by the Lady Monarchs since an 8-1 victory over Radford in 2007. Five different ODU players tallied goals and five different players dished out assists against the Wildcats. The Lady Monarchs offense produced a balanced attack with 12 shots in each half, including 14 total shots-on-goal. ODU also dominated in penalty corner opportunities, garnering 10 to Villanova's four attempts.
PRESEASON HONORSSenior Kathleen Shea was selected to the Preseason All-CAA Field Hockey Team, the league announced. The midfielder scored five goals and had a CAA-best five defensive saves in 2008. Shea, a First Team All-CAA selection in 2008, started all 23 games for the Lady Monarchs a year ago. She netted two game-winning goals, placed 14 of her 23 shots on goal and ranked second on the team in total goals and game-winning goals. The midfielder was ranked third on the squad in shots and points.
CAA BRAGGING RIGHTSOld Dominion was picked to win the 2009 CAA field hockey title in a vote of the league's nine head coaches. The Lady Monarchs received six first-place votes and 62 total points, edging out second-place James Madison.
NATIONAL EXPERIENCEFour Lady Monarchs also gained valuable experience competing at the 2009 Women's National Championships. Kelly Driscoll, Hanna Warren, Kathleen Shea and Stephanie Kratzer all took part in the round-robin tournament featuring the top athletes from USA Field Hockey's six regional High Performance Centers.
TOUGH SLATEThe 2009 schedule continues the ODU tradition of challenging itself both in and out of conference play. The slate features 11 home contests and home-and-away series with defending national champion Maryland, as well as perennial powerhouses North Carolina and Duke. In all, the Lady Monarchs will face nine opponents ranked in last year's final National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) poll and take on eight 2008 NCAA Tournament participants.