Wake Forest Falls 2-1 to No. 1 North Carolina
Sept. 16, 2012
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By Currie McFayden, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@SIDeacons)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Anna Kozniuk scored a late goal for Wake Forest, but the No. 13 Deacons could not overcome an early two-goal deficit to No. 1 North Carolina in a 2-1 decision on Sunday afternoon at Kentner Stadium.
The game was not considered an ACC matchup as the two sides will face off again on Sept. 29 in Chapel Hill. The loss drops the Demon Deacons to 3-4, while the Tar Heels improve to 7-1 on the season.
Charlotte Craddock struck early for North Carolina, maneuvering her way through Wake's back line before launching a powerful shot from the right side of the circle to beat Kaitlyn Ruhf on the unassisted attempt. The goal put the Tar Heels up 1-0 in the ninth minute.
Just eight minutes later, Kelsey Kolojejchick slid a pass into the center of the circle and found Craddock wide open once again. The sophomore unleashed a blistering one-timer to the right side of the cage which struck the post and then found the back of the net to give North Carolina an insurance goal and a 2-0 lead.
At the very end of the half, the Deacs had a chance to cut into the lead on a pair of penalty corners from Jess McFadyen. The junior found Molly Murphy on the first insertion, but Murphy's shot was blocked by a defender. On the second try, McFadyen sent a great pass to Jillian Anzalone, but her attempt with no time remaining was blocked as well.
Wake Forest's defense buckled down in the second half and stonewalled the Tar Heels. Two attempts by Craddock and Casey Di Nardo were blocked in the 44th minute, and Ruhf picked up a pair of saves on shots by Caitlin Van Sickle in a four-minute span midway through the half.
Lizzie Rae helped the offense to flex its muscles in the 63rd minute, launching a pair of shots on goal. Goalkeeper Sassi Ammer saved the first and then made a second fantastic save as Rae collected her own rebound to maintain the 2-0 lead.
The lead would not last long, though, as Kozniuk broke through the defense and hammered home a shot from the top of the circle which Ammer had no chance of saving to cut the lead to 2-1 with just over three minutes remaining.
Another penalty corner from McFadyen at the 67:38 mark gave Wake Forest its best chance to equalize. The junior found Rae open just to the side of the cage, but the senior could not get her attempt past Ammer. North Carolina's defense held strong over the final two minutes to seal the 2-1 victory.
The Demon Deacons will be back in action next Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. as they host No. 4 Maryland in an ACC matchup at Kentner Stadium. That game will be the first of the weekend for the Deacs, who will also host Delaware on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
