Wake Forest

Oct. 22, 2009

Box Score | Box Score (PDF) | Updated Season Stats

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - No. 15 Virginia Tech broke open a 1-1 tie with three goals early in the second half and held off a late Wake Forest rally to defeat the fifth-ranked Demon Deacons 4-3 on Thursday night at Spry Stadium.

Wake Forest falls to 12-3-1 and 4-2-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while Virginia Tech improves to 12-4-0 and 5-2-0 in league play. With the results of other league games on Thursday night, the Demon Deacons are currently tied for fifth in the conference with 13 points.

With the game tied at one in the 54th minute, Virginia Tech tallied three goals in the next 5:38 to take a commanding 4-1 lead. Marika Gray gave the Hokies the lead with her sixth goal of the season. Amanda Barasha mishandled a ball sent into the 18-yard box. Gray was there to take the ball and finish from 12 yards out into an open net to put Virginia Tech in front.

Kelly Conheeney added the third goal for Virginia Tech two minutes later. The Demon Deacons attempted to clear, but instead the ball went right to Conheeney. Conheeney's shot snuck inside the left post to make the score 3-1.

Gray finished the Hokie scoring with her second goal of the game in the 59th minute. Conheeney played a long pass to Gray down the right side. Gray dribbled in and scored from eight yards out to put VT in front 4-1.

Wake Forest started its comeback in the 71st minute on Jill Hutchinson's team-leading 11th goal of the season. Bianca D'Agostino played a pass to Hutchinson, who dribbled in from the right and around the keeper. Hutchinson's shot from six yards out went into an open net to make the score 4-2.

The Demon Deacons continued to apply the pressure in the 82nd minute. Kaley Fountain had a shot from the left side of the 18-yard box that required Virginia Tech keeper Kristen Carden to make a diving save to keep the game at 4-2.

Wake Forest would cut the lead to one with a goal from Fountain in the 87th minute. A Wake Forest player attempted to put a shot on goal, but her attempt was blocked. The ball came right to Fountain, who found the right side of the net from 12 yards out to bring the Deacs to within 4-3.

The Deacs nearly equalized in the final seconds of the match on what would have been an amazing goal from Hutchinson. Hutchinson attempted a bicycle kick from 14 yards out in the middle of the penalty area. Her attempt went high of the goal as the Hokies held on for the 4-3 win.

Hutchinson's goal, which was her 11th of the season, also was the 33rd goal of her career. The goal brings her to within one of tying the school record of 34, currently held by Sarah Kozey.

Allie Sadow and Fountain also scored goals for the Demon Deacons. The goal for Sadow was the fourth of the season, while Fountain found the back of the net for the ninth time in 2009.

D'Agostino notched her team-leading sixth assist of the season, contributing on Hutchinson's goal in the second half.

Gray recorded a pair of goals to lead Virginia Tech. The goals for Gray were her sixth and seventh of the season. Conheeney added a goal and assist for the Hokies. Jennifer Harvey also scored in the game for Virginia Tech.

Barasha suffered her first loss of the season in goal for Wake Forest. Barasha gave up four goals and made one save. Kristin Carden earned the win for Virginia Tech, surrendering three goals and making one stop.

Wake Forest held a 14-11 edge in shots and a slight 6-5 edge in shots on goal. The Hokies had six corner kicks, compared to five for the Demon Deacons.

Virginia Tech came out of the gates strong and grabbed an early lead on a penalty kick goal from Harvey in the fourth minute. Gray played a cross from the right side of the field, looking for Harvey inside the 18. Harvey was knocked down by a Wake Forest player to set up the penalty kick. She calmly struck the ball into the goal for her seventh tally of the season to put the Hokies in front 1-0.

The Demon Deacons began to apply pressure in the 12th minute. D'Agostino sent a cross in from the right side of the field that found Fountain at the left of the 18-yard box. Fountain played a pass back to the center of the penalty area and found Hutchinson, who sent a shot from close distance just high.

Wake again nearly tied the score at one in the 23rd minute. Sarah Winslow played a pass from the right and had D'Agostino open inside the 18-yard box. D'Agostino had a great shot at the goal, but Virginia Tech's Kelly Lynch was at the goal line to send the ball away to keep the Hokies in front.

The Deacs broke through in the 35th minute on Sadow's fourth goal of the season. A Hokie player gave the ball away inside the 18-yard box. Sadow collected the ball and finished from six yards out to tie the game at one.

Wake Forest had a chance to grab a 2-1 lead in the final seconds of the first half. Caitlin Farrell sent a pass to Hutchinson in the middle of the field. Hutchinson chipped a shot over a charging Carden that appeared destined for the back of the net. However, Brittany Michels was able to get a touch on the ball at the last possible moment, sending it over the goal and out for a corner kick as time expired in the first 45 minutes.

Wake Forest closes its home schedule on Sunday, playing host to Virginia. Kick off is set for 1 p.m. The seven-member Wake Forest senior class will be honored in a ceremony before the match.