March 30, 2013
NORFOLK, Va. – For the second consecutive year, the Old Dominion University women’s lacrosse team was edged by Oregon by an identical 10-9 score as the Lady Monarchs fell in a heartbreaker on Saturday at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex.
A tie game at half, the game went back and forth with just one goal separating the squads for the majority of the game until midway through the second half when Oregon (5-5) built a two-goal edge at 8-6. The teams then traded goals the rest of the contest and Old Dominion (3-8), despite a late rally with under a minute to go, could not find the equalizer to push the game into overtime.
Sophomore midfielder Ashmore Standing scored a game-high four goals and now leads the Lady Monarchs with 25 on the season while junior attacker Emily Austerberry added a pair of goals for ODU. For the Ducks, Kate Cathell lead the way with three goals and two assists while Shannon Propst, Hayley Milner and Nikki Puszcz each scored twice.
Old Dominion had the 8-1 advantage in draw controls in the first half despite being outshot, 14-11. The Lady Monarchs held their only lead of the game at 2-1 after an Austerberry goal and the two teams then went back and forth as senior attacker Meredith Rogers scored the final goal of the first half on a free position attempt to knot things up at four going into break.
Oregon had eight of the 12 draws in the second half and outshot ODU, 25-21, in the contest while causing 12 of ODU’s 19 turnovers. The Ducks held a two-goal lead three times late in the second half but ODU was able to force a turnover and score when Austerberry netted the ninth goal of the game with 17 seconds remaining. Earning the draw, ODU forced the ball down the field but turned it over and Oregon was able to run out the remaining seconds of the game to hold on for the win.
ODU had the 23-17 edge in groundballs and 12-9 draw control advantage while forcing nine of Oregon’s 16 turnovers in the game. The Lady Monarchs were also 4-for-5 on free position attempts while the Ducks were 0-for-8.
Sophomore goalkeeper Karen Hayde tallied 10 saves and three groundballs. Oregon goalie Salliebeth Finnegan has eight saves for the Ducks with three groundballs.
The Lady Monarchs now head back into CAA action for the remainder of the season as they host Hofstra on Friday at 7 p.m. at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex.
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