Sept. 6, 2009
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Lady Monarch soccer team (2-3) got an early second half goal from junior Ashley Kukura (Virginia Beach, Va.) and pressed hard in the final 15 minutes, but were unable to overcome a 2-0 first half deficit and fell to Arizona (1-3-1), 2-1.
ODU struggled in the first half of the neutral site game against the Wildcats, giving up eight shots, including six on-goal and the two goals scored. Sophomore Rena Cuellar scored both off assists from senior Jasmine Namdar. Old Dominion rookie goalkeeper Laura Bush made a terrific save on Namdar's shot in the 11th minute, but couldn't collect the ball and Cuellar cleaned it up for the score.
Just a couple minutes later, Bush was forced to make back-to-back spectacular diving saves as the Wildcats continued to push. They broke through again in the 23rd minute when Namdar lifted the ball over the defense and Cuellar ran on for the shot.
At the half, the Lady Monarchs trailed 2-0 after being outshot 8-3. However, the team turned it around in the second half. Just five minutes in, sophomore defender Lisa Bernardini (Langhorne, Pa.) teed up a set piece just inside midfield on the Arizona side of the field. She lofted the ball into the box, where freshman Ashlee Coutu (Lebanon, Conn.) was first to the ball, took one touch and then crossed it over the keepers head to Kukura, who headed it in for the score.
ODU held the advantage for much of the game after that, taking five second half shots and making countless runs that were stopped just before a shot. Sophomore Victoria Johnson (Norfolk, Va.) had a look with just over four minutes remaining, but her sliding attempt was blocked.
Three Old Dominion players were named to the Sun Devil Desert Classic All-Tournament team: senior defender Brittney Kortz, junior midfielder Ashley Kukura and sophomore defender Lisa Bernardini.
The Lady Monarchs return to the field this weekend as they travel to Liberty on Friday, September 11 and then to East Carolina on Sunday, September 13. The Liberty kick is set for 6:00 pm.
ARIZ 2-0=2ODU 0-1=1
11:00 ARIZ Cuellar, Renae (2) from Namdar22:06 ARIZ Cuellar, Renae (3) from Namdar50:00 ODU Kukura, Ashley (1) from Bernardini and Coutu
Shots: ARIZ (10), ODU (8)Corner Kicks: ARIZ (1), ODU (2)Saves: ARIZ-Wharf (3); ODU-Bush (4), Alvarado (1)
Cautions: YC-ODU: Dodo, Saratu