Panthers Head to Indianapolis for Season Opening Weekend

September 2, 2011
*Due to extreme heat, tonight''s game vs. Drury has been moved to 6 p.m. EST. COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Panthers open the 2011 season on the road as they take on Drury (Mo.) at 6 p.m. this Friday at Key Stadium on the campus of Indianapolis. ODU then squares off against the UIndy Greyhounds at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4. Live Stats: Both games this weekend will feature live stats, available through http://www.sidearmstats.com/uindy/wsoc/xlive.htm. About the Black-and-Gold: ODU and third year head coach, Jonathan Meade, look to continue the Panthers recent string of success and improve upon their 7-4-3 conference mark and third place finish in the GLIAC South Division. The Panthers have reached double digit wins in four straight seasons, including an 11-4-3 mark last season giving Meade a record of 23-7-6 at ODU and career mark of 157-68-13 in 11 years. Along with 13 newcomers, the Panthers return seven starters and 14 letterwinners, including senior forward and ODU''s all-time career assists leader, Sierra Patterson. Patterson led the team with six assists and was second in goals (5), points (16) and game-winners (2). Also back is junior forward Jennifer Holton. A Second Team All-GLIAC selection, Holton led the Panthers with seven goals, 17 points, 27 shots on goal, four game-winning goals, and was second on the squad with three assists and 40 shots. On the defensive side, ODU returns senior defenders Slone Fleak and Marie Fudacz and junior defender Shara Perry. With a combined 47 starts (out of a possible 54), the trio anchored a Panther defense that ranked third in the GLIAC in goals allowed (17) and goals against average (0.94), while tying for the second most shutouts with eight. About the Panthers: The Panthers, the preseason No. 6 in the GLVC, return five starters and 11 letterwinners from last year''s squad that went 8-9-2 overall and finished eighth in the conference with a 6-6-2 mark. Back in 2011 are Kelly Gallagher and Nicole Williams, two of the Panthers top three goal scorers from a year ago. Gallagher finished with a team-high four goals, while Williams finished tied for second in both goals and assists, recording three apiece. About the Greyhounds: UIndy, the ninth-ranked team in the GLVC preseason poll, welcome back nine starters and 21 letterwinners from 2010. The Greyhounds, 4-10-2 overall and 4-8-2 in the conference last season, return 100 percent of their scoring and 94 percent of their point getters. Along with the return of 2009 GLVC Freshman of the Year, Shelby Spinelli, UIndy welcomes back leading goal scorer Kaitlyn Braunig (3 goals, 1 assist, 7 points, 11 SOG) and top point scorer Lauren Soza (2 games, 4 assists, 8 points, 8 SOG). The Series: This is the first ever meeting between ODU and Drury, while Sunday''s game will mark the third ever matchup between the Panthers and Greyhounds since 2008. UIndy took the first game of the series, 2-1, in Columbus and following a year hiatus, the Panthers defeated the Greyhounds, 1-0, in the opener in 2010 thanks a score from Kaylin Hunsaker in the 79th minute. Contact: Bryan Desch deschb@ohiodominican.edu
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