University of North Carolina Athletics
Old Dominion Downs North Carolina, 4-3
June 21, 1999 | Field Hockey
November 16, 1998
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina field hockey team suffered its first loss of the season Saturday afternoon, falling 4-3 to third-ranked Old Dominion. The second-ranked Tar Heels (4-1) have little time to recover, as they welcome top-ranked Virginia to Navy Field on Sunday for a 1 p.m. game.
On Saturday, the Lady Monarchs led 1-0 at halftime on a penalty corner goal by Mimi Smith and quickly stretched their lead to two early in the second half on an unassisted goal by Marina DiGiacomo. With 25:44 left in the game, Carolina got on the board on a penalty stroke by freshman Abby Martin. Old Dominion again increased its lead to two on a goal by Kelly Driscoll, who scored on a penalty corner, before UNC closed in with a penalty corner goal of its own by freshman Katie McDonald. Old Dominion's DiGiacomo scored her second goal, on a penalty corner with 6:26 remaining, to put the Lady Monarchs up 4-2. Tar Heel forward Nancy Pelligreen scored on a penalty corner with 2:27 left in the game to put the final score at 4-3.
"I'm disappointed in the loss and disappointed we didn=D5t play up to our abilities at this point in time, but I=D5m encouraged for the future," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "Old Dominion did a fabulous job. Their game management was superb and we learned from what they did. They prepare you to play anyone.".
"This is always a very competitive, hard-fought, well-fought game," said Old Dominion coach Beth Anders, whose team is now 5-1. "North Carolina played well and we hung on."
Game summary:
1 2 F
ODU 1 3 4
UNC 0 3 3
Goals: ODU: Mimi Smith (Kelly Driscoll, Ashleigh Miller), 27:26, 1st;
ODU: Marina DiGiacomo, 32:59, 2nd; UNC: Abby Martin, 25:44, 2nd; ODU:
Driscoll, 17:14, 2nd; UNC: Katie McDonald, 11:46, 2nd; ODU: DiGiacomo
(Driscoll, A. Miller), 6:26, 2nd; UNC: Nancy Pelligreen, 2:27, 2nd.
Shots on goal: ODU 13, UNC 15
Defensive saves: ODU 0, UNC 0
Goalkeeper saves: ODU 8, UNC 9
Penalty corners: ODU 12, UNC 6
