Wake Forest University
Maryland
Field Hockey Topples Top-Ranked Maryland
9/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 21, 2002
Winston-Salem, N.C. - In a rematch of last year??s NCAA Semifinal match-up, the fifth-ranked Wake Forest field hockey team defeated top-ranked Maryland, 2-1, today at Kentner Stadium. In handing the Terps their first loss of the season, the Deacons improve to 5-2 (1-0 ACC), while Maryland falls to 7-1 (0-1 ACC). With the victory, the Deacons improved their home winning streak to 17 games.
The two teams met three times last season, with Maryland winning all three contests. The Terps won the regular season match-up, 4-1, in College Park. In the finals of the ACC Tournament, Maryland won, 3-2. In the NCAA Semifinals, the Terps scored with less than a minute remaining in the second overtime to win, 3-2.
Despite Maryland??s number-one ranking and the losses from last year, Wake Forest head coach Jennifer Averill was impressed with her team??s focus.
??This was an ACC game and that??s how we looked at it,?? Averill said. ??Rankings don??t mean anything for another two months. This was just a great win against a great opponent.??
The Deacons owned the momentum early and used it to get on the board first. Freshman Maeke Boreel took a pass from sophomore Kelly Dostal and beat Maryland goalkeeper Kerry Hearsey to put the Deacs ahead, 1-0. Maryland answered with six minutes remaining in the first half when Tiffany Marsh scored off a pass from Amber McQuillan, making the halftime score 1-1.
After the Deacons had a goal waved off early in the second half, neither team could create a scoring opportunity and the game went to overtime. Wake wasted no time, as senior Maria Whitehead found Dostal streaking towards the net. Dostal took the feed and put it past Hearsey to give the Deacons the 2-1 victory.
Wake Forest outshot Maryland, 12-5 and won the penalty corner battle, 5-3. Junior goalkeeper Katie Ridd made five saves, while Hearsey made eight.
The Deacons continue ACC play on Saturday, September 27 at 7 p.m. when they welcome the Duke Blue Devils to Kentner Stadium.
