University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Wake Forest
Tar Heels Advance With Win Over Wake
November 4, 2011 | Field Hockey
Nov. 4, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -Top-ranked and top-seeded North Carolina edged fourth-seeded Wake Forest 2-1 Friday afternoon at Maryland's Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex to advance to the 2011 Atlantic Coast Conference Field Hockey Championship final on Sunday. The Tar Heels, who took the lead for good on a penalty stroke by senior Katelyn Falgowski with 7:18 remaining, will play for the 17th conference title in program history and the first since 2007. Sunday's game is set for 1 p.m. and Carolina will face third-seeded Duke, a 2-1 winner over No. 2 seed Maryland in Friday's second semifinal game.
The win over Wake Forest marked the third time this season that Carolina (19-1) has beaten the Demon Deacons (10-9) by a one-goal margin. "Credit Wake Forest for playing their hearts out," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "They gave us a lot to handle. They're a formidable opponent.
"I'm proud of the Tar Heels for advancing to the championship game. At tournament time, it's about surviving and advancing and we did that today. Today was a story of missed opportunities for our team - we had plenty of corners and a penalty stroke we missed - but we still found a way to win."
UNC took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute of play on a penalty corner. Junior Caitlin Van Sickle scored the goal, her sixth of the season, with seniors Meghan Dawson and Katelyn Falgowski providing the assists. Falgowski's assist was the 58th of her career and tied UNC's all-time record.
Late in the first half, Carolina was awarded a penalty stroke with the chance to go up 2-0, but Wake goalkeeper Kaitlyn Ruhf made the save on sophomore Marta Malmberg's attempt.
Wake Forest tied the score in the 59th minute on a penalty corner, one of two the Demon Deacons had in the second half after drawing none in the first. After UNC keeper Sassi Ammer saved the first shot, Kaitlin Piosa grabbed the rebound and put it back for a 1-1 tie.
Falgowski's stroke came less than five minutes later and put the Tar Heels on top again, this time for good. "You pick your spot and stick with it, and it was tied so we needed it," Falgowski said. "It's postseason now so every day you go out and you have to earn your next game. For us seniors, that's special. Your time is limited so you go out every day wanting to earn more playing time with your family and friends."
#1 UNC 2, Wake Forest 1
Scoring: UNC - Caitlin Van Sickle (Meghan Dawson, Katelyn Falgowski), 18:45; WFU - Kaitlin Piosa, 58:03; UNC - Katelyn Falgowski (penalty stroke), 62:42
Shots: UNC 14 (7/7), WFU 6 (1/5)
Penalty corners: UNC 7 (4/3), WFU 2 (0/2)
Saves: UNC 2 (Sassi Ammer, 70:00, 2 saves, 1 goal allowed); WFU 5 (Kaitlyn Ruhf, 70:00, 5 saves, 2 goals allowed)
Records: UNC 19-1, Wake Forest 9-9
UNC Starters: Sassi Ammer, Teryn Brill, Taryn Gjurich, Katie Ardrey, Kelsey Kolojejchick, Elizabeth Stephens, Caitlin Van Sickle, Meghan Dawson, Katelyn Falgowski, Marta Malmberg, Jaclyn Gaudioso Radvany
UNC Substitutes: Loren Shealy, Samantha Travers, Katie Plyler, Sophie Rudolph, Sinead Loughran
