Nov. 2, 2007
NEWTON, Mass. - The third-seeded Wake Forest field hockey team used two second half goals, including Chelsea Cipraini's game-winner in the 69th minute, to surge past second-seeded Maryland, 2-1, on Friday night in the semifinal game of the ACC Championship. The Demon Deacons will be playing in their seventh conference title game and look for their second straight ACC Title. Wake Forest will play top-seeded North Carolina in the Championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m. and looks to avenge its two regular-season losses, including one in overtime, to the Tar Heels. North Carolina defeated Virginia, 3-0, earlier on Friday in the day's first semifinal. Though the two teams have met in the ACC Championship in each of the last three years, Sunday's meeting will mark the first-time ever that Wake Forest and North Carolina have faced each other for the league title The Terps struck first when Katie O'Donnell fed a pass to Nicole Muracco in front of the net to give Maryland the 1-0 lead at 9:29. Wake Forest kept the Terps on their toes as it countered each opponent shot with a shot of its own. Deacon goalie Crystal Duffield made all three of her saves in the first half to keep the Terp advantage to only one goal heading into the second 35 minutes. The Deacs, immediately came out shooting as Hilary Moore's shot on goal was saved and Aileen Davis' shot was blocked, but Wake received a penalty corner shortly thereafter. At 46:10, the Demon Deacons knotted the score at 1-1 when Aileen Davis sailed a pass from Minou Gimbrere into the net. Moore would take another shot before the Terps took back-to-back penalty corners - their first of the second half, but Wake Forest would regain possession. After Moore's shot was deflected by Maryland keeper Kathryn Masson, Cipriani punched in the game-winner sending the Deacs to Sunday's title game.
Moore led all players with four shots, including three on goal as Wake out-shot its conference foes 11-6. The Deacon defense proved its resilience as it held the Terps to only shot in the second half. "That was vintage Wake hockey," Deacons head coach Jen Averill said. "I'm so so proud of this team." |
