Wake Forest University
Maryland
Maryland Edges Wake Forest 4-3 in ACC Finals
11/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Nov. 9, 2008
DURHAM, N.C. - The third-seeded Wake Forest field hockey team fell 4-3 to one-seed Maryland in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament finals. Demon Deacons Aileen Davis, Michelle Kasold and Liz Fries earned spots on the All-Tournament team for their stellar performances in Wake Forest's three matches in tournament.
For the game's first 14 minutes, both team's defenses held tough. At 14:57, Maryland senior Danielle Keeley deflected the first goal of the game into the goal off a breakaway assist by ACC Offensive Player of the Year Katie O'Donnell. It was Keeley's third goal of the season.
After trailing for only 25 seconds, Wake Forest answered with a goal from senior All-ACC honoree Minou Gimbrere. Her shot from the top of the circle evened the match at 1-1. She was assisted by junior Kim Romansky. Six minutes later, junior Melissa Martin scored her ninth goal of the season to give the Deacons their first lead of the match. Coming off a penalty corner, she was assisted by Gimbrere and senior All-ACC selection Michelle Kasold.
The score line held for the first five minutes of the second half until Maryland junior Nicole Muracco broke through the WFU defense to knot the score for the second time in the match.
Three minutes later, O'Donnell scored her second assist of the game as her breakaway and pass put senior Sarah Scholl in position to give Maryland its second lead of the game. 60 seconds later, Wake Forest junior Raisa Schiller answered with an unassisted goal of her own to tie the score at 3-3 with just over 21 minutes remaining.
With 2:42 remaining in regulation Maryland's Muracco scored again to give Maryland a 4-3 lead. O'Donnell assisted on the game winning goal which gave Maryland their seventh ACC title.
There were four lead changes in the match which saw 21 total shots with nine saves. Wake Forest had 12 shots, nine on goal while Maryland tallied nine efforts, seven on goal. The Deacons led in penalty corners, 4-2.
Wake Forest will now wait to learn where they will play in the NCAA Field Hockey Championship. Selections for the NCAA Tournament, which will begin next Saturday, November 15, will be announced Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday's ACC Championship game will be broadcast on regional sports networks in the ACC footprint starting on Sunday (11/9) evening at 6 p.m. where it will be seen on Fox Sports South and NESN. On Monday (11/10) night at 7 p.m., Comcast Sports Net will air the game. Finally on Tuesday (11/11) at Noon, Sun Sports will present the game.
ACC Championship All-Tournament Team
Bob Dirks - Boston College
Laura Suchoski - Duke
Katie O'Donnell - Maryland
Nicole Muracco - Maryland
Brianna Davies - Maryland
Susie Rowe - Maryland
Katelyn Falgowski - North Carolina
Traci Ragukas - Virginia
Aileen Davis - Wake Forest
Michelle Kasold - Wake Forest
Liz Fries - Wake Forest
ACC Championship MVP
Susie Rowe - Maryland
ACC Freshman of the Year
Paige Selenski - Virginia
- www.WakeForestSports.com -
