University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Wake Forest
No. 3 Wake Forest Edges Tar Heels In Strokes
September 5, 2008 | Field Hockey
Sept. 5, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - After 100 minutes of play on a rainy evening at Kentner Stadium, the field hockey battle between No. 1 North Carolina and No. 3 Wake Forest came down to penalty strokes and the host Demon Deacons came out on top to earn a 2-1 win. The top-ranked Tar Heels fell to 1-2 on the season, while No. 3 Wake Forest improved to 3-0.
"It was a hard-fought game by two great teams," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "Our team played hard and Wake Forest played hard. Both teams had lots of opportunities to score and didn't, so it came down to penalty corners and we fell short."
Carolina has played all three of its games this season at Kentner Stadium. UNC beat Michigan Aug. 30 in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, hosted by Wake Forest. Carolina lost 3-2 to Iowa the following day, ending a 25-game winning streak that extended back to the start of the 2007 season.
Next up for the Tar Heels is their home opener on Sunday afternoon against Georgetown. Action at Francis E. Henry Stadium begins at 1 p.m. The annual Field Hockey Field Day will take place prior to the game, with inflatable games, cotton candy and sno cones for fans. "We're very excited to play at home after three games over at Wake," Shelton said. "I have to say, though, that our Carolina Fever crowd that came over to the game tonight made us feel like we were at home. They were great. Still, we're looking forward to Sunday."
Wake Forest took an early lead Friday when Kim Romansky put her team on the board in the ninth minute of play, taking a pass from Michelle Kasold and flicking it past UNC goalkeeper Brianna O'Donnell. Less than six minutes later, Carolina tied the game at 1-1 when junior Melanie Brill scored on a penalty corner, assisted by sophomore Katelyn Falgowski.
UNC led 8-3 in shots and 5-0 in corners after the first half, but Wake Forest held the advantage in both in the second half. At the end of regulation, Carolina had 13 shots to Wake's 10 and six corners to Wake's four. The Demon Deacons held the statistical advantage in the two overtime periods, with six shots to Carolina's two (one in each period) and five corners, all in the second overtime. UNC did not draw a corner in overtime.
After two scoreless 15-minute overtime periods, the game went to penalty strokes and UNC connected on just one of its four attempts before Wake Forest sealed the win. Falgowski's shot sailed wide to open the contest. After Illse Davids made her shot, Wake's Crystal Duffield saved attempts by Brill and Britt van Beek. UNC goalkeeper Jackie Kintzer saved a shot by WFU's Liz Fries, but the Deacons made three of their four attempts to earn the win.
Friday's battle was the 10th extra-period game in the past 14 meetings between the Tar Heels and Demon Deacons. Two of last season's three meetings went into overtime, with UNC winning both.
Carolina and Wake went to penalty strokes in 2004 and 2005, with each team winning once, WFU most recently.
Friday's game will not count in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings, as ACC field hockey play includes only one yearly meeting with each league opponent. UNC and Wake Forest choose to play twice, so one game is a non-conference contest. The teams will play again in Chapel Hill on Oct. 4 in the designated ACC game.
"I think we've made significant progress from last week even though that didn't show tonight in the results," Shelton said. "We're going to keep working hard to get better."
No. 3 Wake Forest 2, No. 1 UNC 1 (2OT, PS)
Scoring: WFU - Kim Romansky (Michelle Kasold), 8:41; UNC - Melanie Brill (Katelyn Falgowski), 14:12; WFU - 3-1 in penalty strokes
Penalty strokes: WFU Regina Shannon - goal; UNC Katelyn Falgowski - wide; WFU Michelle Kasold - goal; UNC - Illse Davids - goal; WFU - Liz Fries - saved; UNC Melanie Brill - saved; WFU Minou Gimbrere - goal; UNC Britt van Beek - saved
Shots: WFU 16, UNC 15
Penalty corners: WFU 9, UNC 6
Goalkeeper saves: WFU 5 (Crystal Duffield); UNC 4 (Brianna O'Donnell 1, Jackie Kintzer 3)
Records: UNC 1-2, Wake Forest 3-0
UNC starters: Elizabeth Drazdowski, Kiki Norbruis, Britt van Beek, Danielle Forword, Riley Foster, Taryn Gjurich, Kate Scholl, Melanie Brill, Illse Davids, Katelyn Falgowski, Brianna O'Donnell
UNC substitutes: Meghan Dawson, Elizabeth Stephens, Charlotte Verstraten, Jen Slocum, Jackie Kintzer
