THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 13, 1994 TAG: 9411130240
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
It's been 14 long years since Old Dominion and Iowa began their love-hate relationship. And today's 2 p.m. quarterfinal match in the NCAA field hockey tournament at Foreman Field will likely add fuel to the fire.
The teams have met for the national title three times since 1984. Each time, the Monarchs prevailed. In fact, Old Dominion has never dropped any of a dozen games to the Hawkeyes. The Monarchs are 11-0-1 with a 32-7 scoring advantage.
It's plain to see why fourth-ranked ODU must love to play No. 13 Iowa, and why the Hawkeyes haven't kept their ill will toward the Monarchs a secret.
Before their last meeting in 1992, Iowa sent ODU a message via T-shirts that brandished the logo ``Made In America'' in response to coach Beth Anders' practice of fielding foreign players.
But the T-shirts didn't put goals on the board.
ODU answered by blanking the Hawkeyes, 4-0, for its third consecutive NCAA crown.
Today's game isn't for the title, though. The winner - which easily could be either team, considering their inconsistency - will advance to the Final Four next weekend at Northeastern University.
ODU enters its first game of the tournament with a 17-5-1 record, its most losses since 1987. The Monarchs held their position in the rankings with a 2-1 victory over James Madison for the Colonial Athletic Association's automatic NCAA bid.
Likewise, Iowa (14-7) scored decisions over No. 5 Penn State and second-ranked Northwestern for the Big Ten championship and an NCAA berth. The Hawkeyes then defeated California-Berkeley, 3-2, in the first round to set up today's rematch.
``We've really come on strong,'' Iowa coach Beth Beglin said of her team, which has won seven of its last eight games. ``We seem to be peaking at the end of the year.''
But Beglin knows Iowa is in for a fight against the Monarchs, who have outscored opponents, 67-15.
``Old Dominion is a very strong team,'' she said. ``There's a reason why they've been in the top four all year.
``Obviously, it's going to be a very difficult game.'' by CNB