Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Portland
Time Runs Out On Women's Soccer Versus Pilots
9/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 9, 2001
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Wake Forest women's soccer team gave up two goals in the first two minutes versus No. 5 Portland, Sunday afternoon in the final game of the Wake Forest Nike Tournament. The Demon Deacons fought back and scored in the second half to close the Pilots' lead to one goal, but could not erase the rest of the deficit, losing 2-1. The ACC went 0-4 against the West Coast Conference in the Wake Forest Nike Tournament as Santa Clara and Portland both beat Wake Forest and Florida State.
"With the exception of the first two minutes we played an exceptional game," said Wake Forest head coach Tony da Luz. "Against Portland, you can't give up two goals. We played better today though - much more patient and consistent. I thought we won the second half."
Seventy-two seconds into the game, the Demon Deacons try to clear a Pilot corner kick and ended up feeding Portland junior midfielder Erin Misaki a ball that she punched in from 12 yards out. Only 31 seconds later Jessica Heller and Christine Sinclair weaved through the dazed Wake Forest defense with a give and go, setting up Heller with the game-winning goal at the 1:43 mark of the game.
Sarah Kate Noftsinger broke through the Pilot defense in the 57th minute connecting with a pass from Liz McDowell and scoring the Demon Deacon's first goal of the season. Noftsinger, a senior from Richmond, VA, led Wake Forest with three shots on the day, placing two on goal.The Demon Deacons out shot the fifth ranked Pilots in the second half 5-3.
In the first game of the final day of action at the Wake Forest Nike Tournament, No. 7 Santa Clara defeated No. 13 Florida State 4-1. Aly Wagner led the Broncos with three goals on the day. Taline Tahmassian scored the game-winner for Santa Clara and Camie Bybee hit the Seminoles' lone goal.
Florida State falls to 2-2 on the season and Santa Clara improves to 4-0. Wake Forest falls to 0-2-1 on the year and Portland improves to 3-1. The Demon Deacons will return to action next weekend when they travel to Los Angeles, CA, for the Loyola Marymount Fila Invitational, where they will meet Southern California on Friday, Sept. 14 and Loyola Marymount on Sunday, Sept. 16.
