Oct. 11, 2009
Box Score
Box Score in PDF Format
BOSTON, Mass. - Despite being down 1-0 with ten minutes left to play and playing a man down for the final 20 minutes of regulation, the Lady Monarchs escaped Boston with a tie, 1-1, against Northeastern University (8-3-2, 3-1-2). The tie improves Old Dominion's record to 6-5-4 overall, 2-1-3 in conference action. Senior Jodi Knorowski scored the game-tying goal with just over nine minutes to play in regulation off assists from Saratu Dodo and Ashlee Coutu.
Northeastern got the lead in the first half on a goal from rookie Sandra Magnasdottir assisted by Devin Petta and Veronica Napoli. The goal was scored in the 24th minute of play as Magnasdottir was wide open on the right side after Petta was triple teamed in the box.
The Lady Monarchs had a great chance on goal with 16 minutes remaining in the first as junior midfielder Ashley Kukura fed the ball to rookie Kelly Evans in the center of the box. Evans had a touch or two ahead of the defender before taking a hard shot but the keeper made the save.
At halftime, the score was 1-0 in favor of the Huskies, holding a dominant 11-3 shot advantage and controlling much of the game.
As Northeastern continued to play well in the second half, the Lady Monarchs picked up the pressure and started creating problems for Northeastern. With 19:56 remaining, though, ODU would lose a valuable defender and veteran, senior Brittney Kortz after a red card. The referee went straight to red as Kortz attempted a slide tackle of Northeastern's Devin Petta on a breakaway just outside of the box.
With a man down for the rest of the match, ODU left just three on the back line to try and maintain the aggressive offense. Then, in the 81st minute, it paid off.
The Lady Monarchs evened the game with 9:14 remaining when senior Jodi Knorowski scored off a pair of assists. Rookie Ashlee Coutu trapped the ball about 15 yards out of the box in the center of the field and lofted a pass into the box where senior Saratu Dodo jumped and directed the ball off her head to the feet of Knorowski on the left side. With no defenders in front of her, Knorowski took one dribble and then slammed a shot into the back of the net from about eight yards out.
The equalizer from Knorowski was her second goal this season and fourth of her career. Coutu's assist adds to her team-leading points total, giving her the second 20-point season for a freshman in as many years after Victoria Johnson's 25-point first year last season.
The Lady Monarchs remained the aggressor in the overtime periods, despite being a player down in the match. Neither team, though, was able to post a score and the game ended in a tie giving each one point in the CAA standings.
The Huskies were led by Magnusdottir, who took seven shots in the game including four on-goal. Stephanie Gordon also played the full 110 minutes in goal and allowed just the one goal while saving three. Northeastern outshot Old Dominion by a 22-12 count.
Evans and Knorowski led the way for ODU, taking two shots on goal in the match. In goal, freshman Bri Alvarado set a new career-high in saves with nine in the match. She allowed just the one goal in the full 110 minutes of play and throughout the game made several key plays to slow the potent Northeastern attack.
Old Dominion will remain on the road next weekend for the second half of the tough four-game conference road swing. ODU will face James Madison at 7:00 pm on Friday night in Harrisonburg and then will kick off against VCU at 1:00 pm on Sunday night.
ODU 0-1-0-0=1NU 1-0-0-0=1
23:13 NU Magnusdottir, Sandra (1) from Napoli and Petta80:46 ODU Knorowski, Jodi (2) from Coutu and Dodo
Shots: ODU (12), NU (22)Corner Kicks: ODU (6), NU (6)Saves: ODU-Alvarado (9); NU-Gordon (3)Cautions and Ejections: RC-ODU #15