Wake to Host Virginia in ACC Field Hockey Clash
10/21/2011 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Oct. 21, 2011
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest will host the Virginia Cavaliers at Kentner Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in a clash of ACC foes. With a win, the Deacons will reach the .500 mark for the first time this season.
The matchup will also feature a "Sticks for the Cure" title as the Deacs will give out pink rally towels and hold a silent auction in order to raise awareness for breast cancer.
Wake holds a 7-8 record in 2011 and is 0-3 in ACC play, but two of its three conference losses have been by a single goal. In their last time out, the Deacons defeated non-conference opponent Radford 5-0 at Kentner Stadium last Tuesday with goals from Lizzie Rae, Kari Walkley, Adelaide Knott and Emily Cummings.
The Cavaliers are 7-10 overall and are also 0-3 in the ACC. They traveled to William & Mary for their last action and defeated the Tribe in a close 4-3 contest last Monday.
Virginia has a slim edge in the all-time series between the ACC rivals with an 18-15 lead over Wake. It has claimed the last three matchups in the series since dropping 14 straight to the Deacs from Oct. 23, 1999, until Nov. 16, 2008. In the last meeting between the two, the Cavs earned a 4-1 victory in Charlottesville on Oct. 23, 2010.
Sophomore Kari Walkley continued to build on her excellent season in the win over Radford by tallying a pair of goals to push her into double digits with a team-leading total of 11. Seven of those scores have come during Wake's current five-game winning streak. She also holds a slight edge in points over Lizzie Rae with 23 to Rae's 21.
Cristen Atchison, Lauren Greenwald and Molly Murphy, Wake's trio on the back line, are the only Deacons who have started all 15 games this season. They have been a defensive force, surrendering just six goals over the last seven games with back-to-back shutouts against Liberty and Radford. Anna Kozniuk and Jess McFadyen have also contributed to the defensive effort while enjoying success on the offensive end as well.
Goalkeeper Kaitlyn Ruhf, after sitting out the game against Liberty, returned with a strong performance and did not allow any goals as the Deacs downed Radford. As of Oct. 18, the junior ranks third in the conference in total saves with 49 and leads the way with 3.85 saves per game. Senior Bronwen Gainsford has also seen action in each of Wake's last three games and has yet to give up a goal in just over 88 minutes in net.
For the Cavaliers, Elly Buckley has been the centerpiece of the offense, racking up 37 points on 15 goals and seven assists. Jenny Johnstone has been Virginia's starting goalkeeper in 15 of their 17 contests and has made 63 saves with a .589 save percentage.
The Demon Deacons will conclude the regular season with another ACC contest against Boston College next Saturday, Oct. 29. That contest is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start time at Kentner Stadium.
