Oct. 13, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 1-ranked Old Dominion field hockey team hopes to continue its 2011 success against Atlantic Coast Conference foes this weekend as the Lady Monarchs travel to No. 3 Maryland Friday at 6 p.m. and host No. 7 Duke Sunday at 1 p.m.
Undefeated Old Dominion (14-0) topped then-No. 1 Maryland, 4-0, on September 2 in Norfolk and the Lady Monarchs defeated then-No. 6 Duke, 3-2, on September 18 in Durham, N.C.
ODU currently ranks second in the country allowing just 0.77 goals a contest and the Lady Monarchs are Top 10 nationally in goals per game, scoring margin and shutouts. Eight Old Dominion players have 10 or more points on the year, with Emma Batten leading the way with 29 points on 13 goals and three assists. Batten recorded her first career hat trick against the Terps the last time the squads met.
The Lady Monarchs are coming off a 2-1 win at Drexel Sunday. The Dragons took an early 1-0 lead, but Stephanie Kratzer and Maartje van Rijswijk tallied goals to push ODU to its fifth Colonial Athletic Association victory.
Maryland (13-1) has won its last nine games since falling in Norfolk just over a month ago. Most recently, the Terps held off Duke, 2-1, behind senior Jemma Buckley's two goals and goalkeeper Melissa Vassalotti's seven saves. Vassalotti is the current ACC Player of the Week. Junior Harriet Tibble is leading the ACC in assists with nine this season, including two in each of the last three games.
Maryland has been ranked in the top three in the country for 72 consecutive weeks, dating back to Nov. 2, 2004, when they were ranked No. 5.
Duke (8-5) has won three of its last four games, including a 9-1 victory over James Madison on Sunday. Emmie Le Marchand leads the Blue Devils with 26 points on the year on 11 goals and four assists. Duke pushed ODU into double overtime when the two teams met in Durham a month ago before the Lady Monarchs prevailed on a Kati Nearhouse goal in the 94th minute.
Sunday's contest against the Blue Devils can be seen on Monarch TV and fans can get live updates throughout by following @ODUFieldHockey on twitter.
-ODU-