Monday, August 29, 2005

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Laura Beeman scored her third goal in two matches to push Old Dominion past Campbell 3-1 on Monday night. The win improves the Lady Monarchs to 2-0-0 on the season while the Camels drop to 1-1-0.

The loss snaps several key streaks for the Camels. The team had not lost a home match since a 3-2 loss to UNC Asheville on Sept. 13, 2003. During that run the team went 19 consecutive home contests without dropping a match. The NCAA records the top-15 home unbeaten streaks and the Camels’ will finish just shy of No. 15, Santa Clara’s mark. The Lady Broncos went 20 home matches without a loss from Oct. 22, 1989 to Aug. 29, 1991.

The Camels also end their 15-match regular season unbeaten streak. After an early season loss 1-0 to Coastal Carolina in the Charleston Southern tournament on Sept. 4, 2004, the Camels did not lose another game until the NCAA tournament where they fell to No. 1 seeded North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Old Dominion jumped out to an early lead when senior Laura Beeman scored at the 12:50 mark. The Chalfont, Pa. native, put her shot inside the far post off an assist from freshman Elizabeth Brewster. The Lady Monarchs dominated play for much of the first half but failed to capitalize as junior goalkeeper Samar Azem produced eight saves to keep the Camels in the contest despite being out shot 12-3 in the first half.

Campbell’s persistence would pay off as junior Christina Candeloro was able to pounce on a lose ball inside the ODU 18-yard area and slam home the equalizer. The goal came as a result of senior Susan Persson dribbling the ball into the box, were her attempt was blocked by an Old Dominion player. The ball fell to Daniella Mandela who was unable to control the ball but got enough of a touch to keep it out of reach of Colby Owen in the Lady Monarch goal. The ball came off a Monarch defender’s foot to Candeloro and the Fort Erie, Ontario native put the ball into the net past a sprawling Owen.

In the second half it was more of the same as Old Dominion out shot the Camels 10-3 for an overall advantage of 22-6. The visitors broke the deadlock at the 56:48 mark, when senior Melissa Futrell played the ball to freshman Katie Watson whose near-post volley overpowered Azem in the Campbell goal.

Old Dominion would later add an insurance goal through Shavon Knight in the 81st minute, as she found herself open inside the Campbell area and finished her shot to the far post past an onrushing Azem, who totaled 11 saves during the contest.

The Camels will look to rebound next Friday as they travel to face Western Carolina at 6:00 p.m. The Lady Monarchs will next face Richmond in Greensboro, N.C. at the UNC Greensboro tournament. The Monarchs have not lost in 2005 including the preseason, as the team recently won the Westfield Cup with wins over Akron and No. 19 Florida.