Wake Forest University
Maryland
Field Hockey Claims ACC Tournament Title
11/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 5, 2006
| CHAPEL HILL N.C. - Playing in front of a hometown crowd, sophomore Michelle Kasold scored the game-winner with 11 seconds remaining in the first half to lead the No. 2 Wake Forest field hockey team to its third ACC Championship with a 1-0 victory over Maryland, Sunday afternoon from Francis E. Henry Stadium.
The win improves the Demon Deacons to 19-1 overall and marks the first time since the 2003 season that Wake Forest has captured the tournament crown.
Kasold, who was named to the All-Tournament team along with Lauren Crandall and Aileen Davis, currently leads the Demon Deacons with 18 goals, including five game-winners.
The Demon Deacons held the control during the first half, despite the Terrapins earning the first penalty corner in the 12th minute. Wake answered the corner four minutes later with one of their own, but the Terps successfully defended it.
As the teams went back and forth and the time ran down, Maryland earned a free hit right outside the circle with three minutes remaining. Wake cleared the ball and sophomore Chelsea Cipriani dribbled the ball up the sideline. Finding Kasold in the circle, the Deacs drew their second corner of the game. A shot by Crandall's was saved by a diving Kathryn Masson, but the Deacs maintained control. Bringing the ball back into the circle once again, Kasold fired a diving shot from the near side and it hit the far goal post and angled in for the Deacs only goal of the game.
The Deacs came out in the second half and opened up with possession of the ball and Tracey and Haley Scott combined for the first quality scoring opportunity for Wake. Tracey found Haley on a quickly moving ball, but the shot by Haley landed just wide of the cage. The Deacs drew a penalty corner two minutes later, but Maryland defended it.
The Terrapins did manage back-to-back penalty corners with 11 minutes remaining, but the Deacs escaped unscathed. In the minutes following the corner, Maryland went on a short offensive run, taking all five of its shots. Sophomore goalkeeper Crystal Duffield made a skilled diving save with just under three minutes remaining to give the Deacs the victory.
On the day, the Deacs did manage to outshoot the Terps, 6-5, but Wake Forest held Maryland to no shots in the first half. Duffield closed the day with one save, while Masson finished with two and Maryland held the advantage in penalty corners, 6-3.
The Demon Deacons will now await a NCAA bid. The selection show will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised on CSTV
