University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Wake Forest (ACC Tournament)
UNC Falls To Wake In OT In ACC Semifinals
November 4, 2005 | Field Hockey
Nov. 4, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The North Carolina field hockey team's bid for back-to-back Atlantic Coast Conference titles came to an end Friday with a 2-1 overtime loss to top-ranked and top-seeded Wake Forest (19-0) in the tournament semifinals. The Tar Heels (14-6) are ranked No. 5 in the nation and were the fourth seed in the tournament.
The loss was UNC's third to the Demon Deacons this season, but marked the second time that the teams have played into overtime. Friday, Wake's Lauren Crandall scored her second goal of the game just 1:50 into the extra period to advance her team to Sunday's championship game.
UNC got on the board first with a goal by junior Laree Beans 3;31 into the action. On a penalty corner, Carolina's initial shot bounced off a post and back intoplay. After a brief scramble in front of the goal, Beans put a shot past Wake Forest keeper Kristina Gagliardi for the early 1-0 lead.
Wake Forest wasted little time in answering, with Crandall scoring her first goal of the contest at the 5:37 mark. The Deacons' goal came off a penalty corner, with Christine Suggs pushing the ball in and Maeke Boreel handling the stick stop.
Crandall's gamewinner came on Wake Forest's third penalty corner of the overtime period. After UNC successfully defended the first two, Jamie Whitten pushed the ball in and Boreel took the stick stop on the third. Crandall then laced a shot through the North Carolina defense for the victory.
Wake had 24 shots, but Tar Heel goalkeeper Katy Tran made 11 saves. Carolina had just five shots, but all were on target as Gagliardi had four saves.
The game marked the second year in a row that UNC and Wake Forest have played to a 2-1 overtime score in the ACC semifinals. In 2004, it was Carolina that came out on top and went on to beat Maryland for the title. This year, Wake Forest will face either second-seeded Maryland or third-seeded Duke, which met in Friday's second semifinal. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday at noon and will be televised by FSN South, FSN Florida and Comcast SportsNet.
