Wake Forest University
UNC Wilmington
Deacs Fall on Last-Second Overtime Goal
9/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
By Jay Garneau, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWSoccer)
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Wake Forest women's soccer rallied from a two-goal halftime deficit, but fell to UNC Wilmington on a last-second goal by a 3-2 score at Thompson Field at the Virginia Tech Tournament on Friday evening.
Trailing 2-0 at halftime after being out-shot in the first half, the Deacs (1-3) came out as the aggressors in the second half. Riley Ridgik's breakaway shot was saved, but Katie Dry followed for the score, her first since 2012, to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 50th minute.
Wake Forest continued attacking, and after a possible Wake Forest penalty kick was ruled a foul outside the box midway through the half, another foul call right at the edge of the box went in the Deacons' favor. With just 2:25 remaining in regulation, Ridgik was rewarded, and executed, the penalty for the equalizer.
The Deacs maintained their aggression in overtime, taking four shots over a span of four minutes.
But the Seahawks (3-2) were awarded a corner kick in the final minute. After Taylor Kerxton, who came in at halftime, made her first career save on an initial shot, Wake Forest couldn't clear the defensive third. A UNCW cross sent into the box was punched by Kerxton but fell to UNCW's Maddie McCormick's feet, and she scored into the empty net as the buzzer sounded.
UNC Wilmington's first goal came from Morgan Leyble in the sixth minute, assisted by Morgan Leyble. The Seahawks made it 2-0 in the 12th minute, when what appeared to be a cross from Lindsey Byrne went over then-keeper Lindsay Preston's head and snuck under the crossbar for the score.
Wake Forest out-shot UNCW 20-8, including a 15-2 margin in the second half and overtime.
RIDGIK GETTING HOT
• Senior captain Riley Ridgik has now totaled two goals and an assist over the past two games.
• She scored in the second half at Kansas, and added a second-half goal and assist against UNCW.
FIRST TIMERS
• Sophomore Taylor Kerxton subbed in at the start of the second half, making her first-ever appearance in goal. She earned her first career save in overtime.
• Freshman Kahla Seymour made the first start of her career, taking one shot on goal.
BY THE NUMBERS
• 4: Wake Forest has now out-shot and taken more corner kicks in all four games. Tonight, the Deacs took 20 more shots and held the advantage in corners, 6-1.
• 7: Riley Ridgik's seven shots were the most for a Deacon this season. Six of the seven came in the second half.
• 100: UNCW scored its third goal in the final second of the 100th minute, scoring literally as the buzzer sounded.
ON DECK
• Wake Forest continues play in the Virginia Tech Tournament, taking on No. 13 Georgetown on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
