Deacons Drop 4 - 3 Heartbreaker To UNC In OT - Wake Forest University Athletics

Tuesday, October 10

Winston-Salem, N.C.

7:00 PM ET

Wake Forest University

North Carolina

Deacons Drop 4 - 3 Heartbreaker To UNC In OT

10/10/2000 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

Oct. 10, 2000

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The fourth-ranked Wake Forest field hockey team dropped its second game of the year 4-3 to the third-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in an overtime thriller Tuesday evening at Kentner Stadium.

Senior forward Jenny Everett opened up the game with the Deacons' first goal at the 27:17 mark. Everett scored unassisted to put Wake ahead 1-0. Less than two minutes later, North Carolina's Kristen McCann netted her first of three goals - an unassisted shot past Deacon goalkeeper Jaime Tressler. McCann would score again to give the Tar Heels their first lead of the game at 2-1. With 19:31 left in the first half, McCann took a cross from Jana Toepel to put North Carolina on top for good.

The Deacons were not to be outdone, however, as junior utility player Carrie Neidhardt scored her second goal in as many games. The goal came off a penalty corner as sophomore Maria Whitehead and Everett assisted Neidhardt for the Deacs' second score with just under two minutes elapsed in the second period. North Carolina's Abbey Woolley responded with a goal of her own at the 13 minute mark. Woolley served the ball into the cage past Tressler for the Tar Heels' lone goal in the second half. Junior forward Jennie Shelton came back to tie the game up with five minutes remaining. The Deacons staved off a North Carolina penalty corner to wrap up regulation. In overtime, less than four minutes went off the clock before McCann sealed the win with a golden goal in the first overtime period to complete her hat trick.

"I thought we played fantastically - both teams were well-prepared. I think we executed the strict game plan we set out before the game pretty well," head coach Jen Averill said. "We've had trouble in the past getting jump started in the second half, but tonight they (North Carolina) just capitalized on a great play in overtime. It was a very positive loss, but I thought we played great and we'll work towards our next game."

Wake Forest drops to 11-2 overall. The Deacons will carry a 2-1 ACC mark into two consecutive non-conference games this weekend. Wake hosts Michigan on Saturday at 1:00 pm and American at 1:00 pm on Sunday at Kentner Stadium.