Nov. 17, 2002

NORFOLK, VA -- The Old Dominion Lady Monarch field hockey team will be heading to its 15th "Final Four" as they defeated the University of Maryland, 4-1, on a rainy afternoon at Foreman Field in NCAA Tournament second round action.

Old Dominion, ranked number one in the final STX/NFHCA Poll and the top seed in this year's NCAA Tournament, improved to 20-3 overall, marking the 12th season the Lady Monarchs have collected 20 or more wins. Fifth ranked Maryland completes its season 17-5. Maryland and Old Dominion were the only two teams this season to hold on to the top spot in the STX/NFHCA Division I Coaches' Poll.

"I'm proud of the way we competed today," said Old Dominion head coach Beth Anders. "We came out today and played hard, but more importantly, we came out and played like a team."

Lady Monarch junior forward Angie Loy collected the hat trick leading Old Dominion with three goals. Sister, senior midfielder Becky Loy, added in the fourth and final goal for the Lady Monarchs. The Terps' freshman forward Tiffany Marsh scored the lone goal for Maryland.

Old Dominion took a 2-0 lead after the first half of play. Angie Loy scored the game's first goal 25 minutes into the contest on a breakaway into the circle. Loy then collected goal number two on a tip-in off a pass from senior midfielder Tiffany Snow (Escondido, CA) on a penalty corner.

The Lady Monarchs extended their lead to 3-0 with 28:42 remaining in the game. After a missed shot on the Terp net, sophomore Lotte Bant (Amsterdam, Holland) fed the ball to Angie Loy, who was waiting directly in front of the Maryland net to record goal number three.

The Terp offense did not give up though, breaking onto the scoreboard with 16:36 to go. Marsh reached the back of the Lady Monarch net off a rebound from the Old Dominion net minder. However, less than three minutes later, the Lady Monarchs upped its lead back to four as Becky Loy scored in a scramble in front of the Terp net.

Freshman goalkeeper Tori Cano (Sea Cliff, NY), making just her third career start in net for the Terrapins, recorded a career-high eight saves, while Old Dominion keeper senior Marybeth Freeman (Holland, PA) made six stops.

Old Dominion outshot the Terps, 19-11, and also out corned Maryland, 7-3.

"I am disappointed we are not moving on," said Maryland head coach Missy Meharg. "But, I am very proud of the way Maryland competed this year. It was a very good season for Maryland."

The Lady Monarchs return to action at the University Louisville, host site of this year's "Final Four" on Friday, November 22nd at 5:00 p.m. against Penn State, who defeated Princeton, 3-2, in State College, PA. Old Dominion will look to avenge a 2-3 loss to the Lady Lions from October 27th. Michigan State, who beat Northeastern 2-1 on penalty strokes, and Wake Forest, who downed fellow ACC rival Duke 2-0, will play in the other NCAA semi-final.