Nov. 6, 2008
Box Score
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -
The score tied three times during the Atlantic Coast Conference quarterfinals, but with five minutes in regulation Michelle Kasold broke through to give the Wake Forest field hockey team a 4-3 victory over Boston College and a spot in the semifinals.
The third-seeded Demon Deacons (18-2) will now play the second-seeded North Carolina Tar Heels (14-4) in the semifinals on Friday at 7 p.m. The match will be broadcast over the internet on ACCSelect.com.
Sixth-seeded Boston College is now 12-7 for 2008.
The Eagles wasted no time in getting on the board. Chelsey Feole scored just under six minutes into the match, slipping the ball past Wake Forest goalkeeper Crystal Duffield from the right edge of the scoring circle.
The Deacons quickly recovered on the next possession. Kim Romansky battled her way through the crowd in front of the net to send in the ball and tie the score at 1-1.
Both teams settled down after the tying goal. Boston College held the majority of the possession through the first 20 minutes, posting five penalty corners before Wake Forest took its first corner of the night. The tables turned towards the end of the half and Wake Forest earned three back-to-back penalty corners but were unable to convert on any of the attempts.
Boston College fired out of the gates to start the second half. Bob Dirks sent a rocket through the Deacon defense and put the Eagles up 2-1 just two minutes into play. It was Dirks' 19th goal of the season.
A penalty corner in the 46th minute allowed the Deacons to knot the score for the second time. Melissa Martin pushed in the ball but it went just past setter Michelle Kasold and was recovered by Liz Fries who was waiting outside the circle. Fries crossed the ball to Kim Romansky on the right side. Romansky sent the ball through the crowd in front of the net and Martin made a diving slide to tap in the ball.
Kim Romanksy made a huge play for the Deacons just minutes later, finding the ball in a chaotic cluster in front of the net and sending it into the BC goal to give Wake Forest a 3-2 lead with 20 minutes to play.
Boston College capitalized on a free hit to tie the score a final time with 15 minutes remaining.
With five minutes to play Hilary Moore recovered the ball by the Wake Forest goal and tore across the field. Michelle Kasold stuck with her and made a diving strike to send in Moore's cross, giving Wake Forest the final 4-3 advantage.
The Deacons will now prepare to face the Tar Heels for the third time this season. When the teams met in September in Winston-Salem, Wake Forest battled UNC to double overtime. The 1-1 score couldn't be broken during the extra minutes and the game had to be settled in strokes. The Deacons out-shot the Heels 3-1 to take the win.
For the official conference contest in Chapel Hill, UNC posted a 4-3 win in regulation.
For complete tournament information please visit the ACC's Tournament Central.
- www.WakeForestSports.com -
