Oct. 9, 2009
Box Score
Box Score in PDF Format
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - With the go-ahead goal in the first five minutes of the second half, the Lady Monarchs handed Hofstra University (7-3-0, 4-1-0) their first loss in conference action this season. ODU (6-5-3, 2-1-2) got goals from a pair of rookies as Meghan Cozens notched her first career tally and leading scorer Ashlee Coutu scored her fourth gamewinner and eighth overall this season.
Hofstra started the game with an aggressive offensive attack and jumped ahead just over 11 minutes into the contest. Laura Greene made a good run down the right side and was able to send a cross into the box just before the ball passed the end line. On the other end, Salma Tarik knocked the ball out of mid-air into the goal on the far post.
As the half progressed, Old Dominion started building some scoring opportunities and the work paid off in the final minute of the frame. With under a minute remaining, rookie Aubrie Ewell took a shot from the left side and it deflected off of a defender across the goal line. On the ensuing corner kick, senior Jodi Knorowski sent a beautiful cross to the head of senior Brittney Kortz.
Kortz' shot was blocked and followed by another blocked attempt from senior Samantha Brennan. On the rebound, rookie Meghan Cozens nailed her first career goal, a laser from about 10 yards out with just 18 seconds left on the clock. The goal was not only the first for Cozens' career, but also the first assist from senior defender Samantha Brennan.
The Lady Monarchs would carry the momentum into the second half and would score the eventual gamewinner less than five minutes into the period. On a goal kick from the Hofstra keeper, junior Ashley Kukura headed the ball forward in the Pride's half of the field. The ball bounded into the box where sophomore Victoria Johnson was all alone. Johnson's line drive shot was blocked by the keeper, but the rebound found the foot of rookie forward Ashlee Coutu, who sent a bullet past the recovering keeper for the score.
Coutu's eighth goal of the season proved to be her fourth career gamewinner. Johnson added her sixth assist on the season, tying her for sixth all time for Old Dominion.
The remainder of the second half was a battle for both teams, each getting solid scoring chances and terrific defense. ODU's best opportunity would come with just over 10 minutes remaining as rookie Kelly Evans found Coutu with a nifty flick over the defender's head. Coutu just had to beat the keeper and sent a lofted shot over her head and on frame. Senior defender Jess Crankshaw, though, would intercept the shot right as it reached the goal line and make the team save. Hofstra's best opportunity came in the waning minutes as Danielle Marino had an open look on the left side of the goal after a corner kick scrum. Her shot, though, would get deflected by one of her teammates and away from the goal.
The win is just the second all-time against Hofstra for ODU, and the two goals were the first ever scored on the home field of the Pride.
The Lady Monarchs stay on the road for another huge conference match this Sunday, as the team will face Northeastern University, coming off a 4-3 double overtime victory over William & Mary on Friday night. Kick-off at Parsons Field in Boston will be at 1:00 pm.
ODU 1-1=2HOF 1-0=1
11:03 HOF Tarik, Salma (7) from Greene44:42 ODU Cozens, Meghan (1) from Brennan49:53 ODU Coutu, Ashlee (8) from Johnson and Kukura
Shots: ODU (11), HOF (12)Corner Kicks: ODU (2), HOF (4)Saves: ODU-Alvarado (4); HOF- Farriella (3), TEAM (1)