Aug. 26, 2011
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The No. 12 Old Dominion field hockey team scored the first four goals of the game and cruised to a 5-2 win over No. 8 Penn State Friday afternoon in Charlottesville. The game was the season opener for both squads.
Five different Lady Monarchs scored goals, including senior Emma Batten who notched a goal and an assist. Old Dominion controlled much of the play throughout the day, outshooting the Nittany Lions 17-4 and earning five penalty corners.
Sophomore Presason All-CAA selection Kati Nearhouse put ODU on the board 11 minutes in with a blast from just inside the circle that found the back left part of the cage. Before Penn State could regroup, sophomore Cassandra Wagner scored to put the Lady Monarchs up 2-0 early.
ODU would go into the half up 3-0 after a Danielle Clutter score. The Lady Monarch momentum continued rolling in the second half as Preseason All-CAA selection Kathryn Kirk scored less than two minutes into the second stanza. Kirk redirected a shot from Batten that found the back of the cage and gave Old Dominion a 4-0 lead.
Penn State roared back with consecutive goals to cut the ODU lead to 4-2. Jenna Chrismer and Hannah Allison both posted goals for the Nittany Lions.
The Lady Monarchs pushed their lead back to three goals at the 52:17 mark after Batten deflected a Bex Condie shot and the ODU defense would hold on from there.
Old Dominion returns to action on Sunday at 4 p.m. as they take on No. 10 American at the Virginia Turf Field in Charlottesville. Fans can follow all the action with live twitter updates at the handle @ODUFieldHockey
-ODU-