Wake Forest University
Virginia
No. 1 Field Hockey Clinches ACC Regular Season Title
10/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 22, 2005
Winston-Salem, N.C. - The No. 1 Wake Forest field hockey team clinched the 2005 ACC regular season title for the third time in four years with a 1-0 victory over No. 20 Virginia, Saturday afternoon in Kentner Stadium. The victory improves the Demon Deacons to 16-0 overall and 4-0 in the conference, while the Cavaliers fall to 8-8 on the season and 0-4 in the ACC.
On the day, the Deacs took 31 shots and had 14 penalty corners, while not allowing the Cavs any shots or corners. Junior Lauren Crandall took eight shots, while Haley Scott had seven. Freshman Michelle Kasold scored the lone goal of the game off her only attempt.
Wake dominated the entire first stanza, taking 13 shots and nine corners. It wasn't until the final penalty corner that Crandall took the initial shot that was saved. Waiting at the near corner of the cage, Kasold pulled the ball from the downed goalkeepers feet and slipped it into the net for the game winner.
In the second half, the Deacs dominated, only allowing the ball past their 25 twice. Taking five corners, Wake had plenty of chances to score, but tough Virginia defense in the circle and outstanding goalkeeping by Katherine Blair kept the score as it was.
Blair finished the day with 15 saves, including 11 in the second half. Junior Kristina Gagliardi picked up the win for the Deacs and her sixth shutout of the season.
The Demon Deacons will close out the regular season next weekend as they host Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 29. On Sunday, Wake will play in its final ACC game before the tournament against Boston College. Both games are set for 1 p.m.
