Oct. 30, 2011
NORFOLK, Va. - The top-ranked Old Dominion field hockey team dropped just its second game of the season, losing an overtime heartbreaker to No. 2 North Carolina, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at the Powhatan Sports Complex.
The game was the regular season finale for both squads and ODU honored its four graduating seniors - Emma Batten, Rebecca Condie, Kathryn Kirk and Stephanie Kratzer - in a post-game ceremony.
Old Dominion, the Colonial Athletic Association regular season champion, ends the regular season with an 18-2 record. North Carolina enters the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament with an 18-1 record, with its only loss coming at home to Old Dominion in September.
The Lady Monarchs struck first in the 10th minute as Kirk scored her eighth goal of the season on a fast break tip-in from Batten. ODU would hold that lead entering halftime, despite being outshot 8-6 in the opening period.
Just under 10 minutes into the second half, North Carolina leveled the game at one after Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany converted a Tar Heel penalty corner opportunity.
The UNC lead was short-lived though as just 3:12 later, Kratzer scored off a feed from junior Christy Longacre to put ODU up 2-1.
With less than 10 minutes to play in regulation, UNC's leading goal scorer, Kelsey Kolojejchick scored on a well-executed give-and-go with teammate Elizabeth Stephens to send the game into overtime.
The Tar Heels controlled action early in the overtime session and earned two of their 10 penalty corners in extra time. On the second attempt, Caitlin Van Sickle received a pass from Katelyn Falgowski and the junior netted her fifth goal of the season to give UNC its first lead of the day and the instant victory.
The Lady Monarchs now prepare to host the CAA Championships November 3-6. The six-team tournament will get underway with first round action Thursday at 5 p.m. The semifinals will be played Saturday, with ODU taking on the winner of James Madison and Delaware at 12 noon. The championship game will be Sunday at 1 p.m.
-ODU-