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Nov. 15, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The third-seeded Wake Forest field hockey team defeated American 7-1 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Kentner Stadium. Wake Forest (20-3) will now face Atlantic Coast Conference rival Virginia (14-8) in the quarterfinals on Sunday at 2 p.m. The Demon Deacons' 7-1 victory was by far the largest margin of victory across the board in this year's opening round matches. One-seed Maryland's 4-2 win over Albany and Princeton's 2-0 win over Penn State were the second highest marks. In the ACC, Duke advanced with a 2-1 win over Connecticut and will play Maryland on Sunday. 2007 NCAA Championship winner North Carolina fell 3-2 to Michigan State in the Iowa regional. Five of Wake Forest's seven goals were netted during penalty corner plays. Hilary Moore opened scoring in the game when she converted on Wake Forest's first corner of the day, taking a cross from Raisa Schiller after just 1:12 had ticked off the clock. Minou Gimbrere netted two goals on corners, while Liz Fries and Moore added the fifth and sixth goals of the game on corners. Melissa Martin, who serves as Wake Forest's primary pusher, and Michelle Kasold, who usually sets the ball during corners, each posted four assists for their work in the plays. American scored its only goal in the 14th minute, scoring on a penalty stroke. Anne-Meike DeWiljes netted the lone point for the Eagles. In addition to logging four assists, senior Michelle Kasold added Wake Forest's fourth goal in the 31st minute. Taking a pass from midfield, Kasold tore into the circle and fired from the center, hitting a high shot into the cage that went just out of reach of American goalkeeper Alyssa Poorman.
Freshman Kaitlin Piosa netted the first goal of her collegiate career to set the final score for the Demon Deacons. Piosa broke away from the pack and found herself in a one-on-two situation with the American goalkeeper and back Anne-Meike DeWiljes. Piosa out-stepped the keeper from seven yards out and dodged DeWiljes just in front of the cage to net the Wake's seventh goal of the game. Wake Forest's quarterfinal opponent, Virginia, topped James Madison 2-1 in the second session on Saturday at Kentner Stadium. The intense match included three green cards and three yellow cards. Virginia scored first, capitalizing on a penalty corner but with three minutes in the half Lindsay Cutchins scored her first goal of the season to knot the score. With two seconds remaining before the halftime break UVA's Traci Ragukas sent in a rebound from a corner to put the Cavaliers in front 2-1. Neither team was able to score in the second half. For tournament updates please visit Wake Forest's Tournament Central. - www.WakeForestSports.com - |
