Wake Forest University
Michigan State
Field Hockey Advances to National Championship Game
11/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 22, 2002
Louisville, Ky. - The Wake Forest field hockey team (19-2) moved one step closer to history tonight as they defeated Michigan State, 3-0, in the semifinals of the 2002 Division I Field Hockey Championship at the University of Louisville's Trager Stadium. The Demon Deacons will take on the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the National Championship game.
Both teams failed to convert on some early scoring chances and it looked as though the first half would end as a scoreless tie, but in the 31st minute, the Deacons got on the board. Sophomore Kelly Dostal dribbled along the baseline, beat a Spartan defender and fired a shot to the far post from a seemingly impossible angle. Still, the ball found the far side of the cage and the Deacs were on top, 1-0. Less than a minute later, Dostal blasted a cross to freshman Ariel Meyers, who tipped the ball into the roof of the net to give the Deacons the 2-0 advantage going into halftime.
Wake Forest put the finishing touches on early in the second half when junior Emily Ruth tipped in a shot from freshman Maeke Boreel. The Deacon defense held strong for the rest of the game as Wake completed its fourth consecutive shutout.
The Deacons outshot the Spartans by a 17-3 margin and earned seven penalty corners to six for Michigan State. Deacon goalkeeper Katie Ridd had to make just one save in getting her fourth straight shutout, while Michigan State's Christina Kirkaldy had to make 11.
The Deacons look to become the first Wake Forest team to win a national championship since 1986 (men's golf) and to become the first women's team in school history to accomplish such a feat. The National Championship game will be played on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Trager Stadium. Live statistics of the game will be available at www.ncaasports.com.
