Oct. 15, 2009
The Old Dominion field hockey team will step out of conference this weekend to take on a pair Top 15 Atlantic Coast Conference teams. The Lady Monarchs will travel to No. 1 Maryland on Friday for a 4 p.m. game, before returning home to face No. 14 Duke on Sunday at the Powhatan Sports Complex. ODU fell to Maryland 6-3 and topped Duke 3-2 in overtime in contests earlier this season.
All fans planning to attend Friday's game against Maryland can park for free in lot 4i after 2 p.m. This lot is directly adjacent to the Field Hockey & Lacrosse Complex.
The game against the Blue Devils, which starts at 1 p.m., will be ODU's annual "Think Pink" game. There will be a post-game auction of uniforms to support the Tidewater affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
GAME NOTES
TWO TOUGH SERIES:
Old Dominion and its foes this weekend, Maryland and Duke, have battled numerous times over the years. In an extremely even series with Maryland, the Terps hold a 23-22-1 edge. Against Duke though, the Lady Monarchs hold a 19-10 advantage.
SCOUTING MARYLAND:
Maryland is 14-0 for the first time in school history. It's longest winning streak was 22 games in 1999. The Terps' lone loss in 1999 came in the third game of the season against none other than Old Dominion. Maryland is the only ACC team to have three players in double-digits in goal-scoring. Senior Nicole Muracco has 18, junior Katie O'Donnell has 17 and senior Emma Thomas has 13. Muracco is second in the ACC, while O'Donnell is tied for third. Thomas is tied for seventh and freshman Megan Frazer is tied for ninth with nine.
A LOOK AT DUKE:
Duke is ranked 11th in the womensfieldhockey.com poll and 15th in the Kookaburra/NFHCA poll. The Blue Devils (6-7, 0-4 ACC) are coming off a hard fought 2-1 loss to second-ranked North Carolina. Duke controlled the first half of play and had several good chances on goal, but the Tar Heels were able to pull out the win. Senior forward Amie Survilla notched her 19th goal of the season in the 19th minute of play. Survilla is second in the NCAA in goals per game (1.46).
LAST WEEKEND FOR ODU:
The Lady Monarchs (6-8 overall, 2-3 CAA) went 0-2 last week, losing to No. 12 Drexel 3-2 and Hofstra 6-5. Junior midfielder Loran Hatch led the Lady Monarchs in scoring with six points on two goals and two assists in the two games. ODU held the lead against both Drexel and Hofstra, but was unable to hold on, allowing two second-half goals to the Dragons and five second-half tallies from Hofstra.
AMONGST THE CAA'S BEST:
Numerous ODU players are ranked in several of the CAA's most important statistical categories, including Loran Hatch who is tied for second in the league in total assists and assists per game. Hatch has dished out seven assists on the year, good enough for a 0.55 assists per game average. She is followed closely by teammate Hanna Warren, who is in fifth with six assists and tied for third with 0.50 assists per game. As a team ODU is second in the CAA in both total assists and assisters per game. Senior goalkeeper Kelly Driscoll is also ranked amongst the CAA's best with 5.64 saves per game and 79 total saves. Those numbers rank her second in both category. Additionally, Warren is also ranked third in the CAA with three defensive saves. She is only one behind the league leader.
A LOOK AT THE RANKINGS:
The Old Dominion field hockey team is ranked No. 20 in the latest National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll, released Tuesday. The Lady Monarchs are one of four Colonial Athletic Association teams to be ranked. ODU received 88 total points to edge conference foe Northeastern for the final spot in the poll. The Lady Monarchs topped the Huskies 3-1 in Boston on September 25. Other CAA schools joining ODU in the rankings are James Madison (11), Drexel (12) and Delaware (17). Hofstra joins Northeastern as CAA teams receiving votes.
ODU IN THE RPI:
In the latest National Field Hockey Coaches Association RPI rankings, the Lady Monarchs place No. 12. Additionally, ODU's strength of schedule is ranked as the second toughest in the country. In total, ODU has played eight 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. In all, the Lady Monarchs face nine opponents ranked in last year's final NFHCA poll and take on eight 2008 NCAA Tournament participants.