Oct. 16, 2009

Final Stats

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 1-ranked Maryland field hockey team defeated No. 20 Old Dominion 6-3 Friday afternoon in a damp afternoon match of one of the oldest rivalries in field hockey. Many Terps got valuable minutes, while freshman Harriet Tibble scored her first career goal and senior Nicole Muracco scored goals 19 and 20 on the year.

Junior Katie O'Donnell struck first 14 minutes into the game off of a Muracco fast break set-up. Muracco scored five minutes later on a similar play from freshman Lindsey Puckett. Muracco scored her second goal with two minutes remaining in the half off of a pass from fellow senior Kristina Foster.

"This was a typical Old Dominion-Maryland game with the speed and flair in the opening minutes," Terps head coach Missy Meharg said "The coaching staff is proud of our team for creating energy to get up 3-0 at half time."

Senior Emma Thomas scored 16 minutes into the second half off of a penalty corner setup from O'Donnell and senior Alexis Pappas. Tibble scored her goal less than a minute later to put the Terps up 5-0.

Old Dominion's Kathryn Kirk scored off a penalty corner to put the Monarchs on the board. Thomas quickly answered a minute later off of a penalty corner setup from senior Alicia Morawski and Pappas. Old Dominion's Loran Hatch scored twice more to finalize the score at 6-3.

"We had the opportunity to play in and out of a few systems and compete with a variety of people, which puts us in a great position as we close regular season," Meharg said.

Goalkeeper Alicia Grater notched four saves on the day and goalkeeper Melissa Vassalotti saved three shots.

The Terps took 27 shots to the Monarchs' 16 and the penalty corners were even with eight apiece.

Maryland will head to Delaware to take on the No. 17 Blue Hens Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available and the game will be broadcast live at WMUCSports.com.