Sports > October 18, 2007

By Hailey Robbins | Staff writer

The No. 3 Demon Deacons took down California-Berkeley, Pacific and Stanford over the weekend to advance to 10-4 for the season. In one of the most aggressive efforts of the season, the Deacons scored twice in the final two minutes of their Oct. 12 matchup to beat California 4-3.

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Sophomore Aileen Davis attempts to clear the ball during the Deacs Sept. 29 game against UNC. (Andrew Imboden/Old Gold & Black)

Starting the second half trailing 2-1, junior powerhouse forward Michele Kasold knocked the ball into the back of the cage with just over 45 minutes of play gone. A mere 12 minutes later, the California Bears took the lead once more.

With 63 minutes of regulation play gone, junior Liz Fries received a stroke, which hit the post.

Senior Chelsea Cipriani responded with a goal at the 68:14 mark, tying the game once more off a pass from sophomore Kim Romansky. With a mere 26 seconds left on the clock, the game tied 3-3, sophomore Regina Shannon scored to cement the Deacons’ fifth victory in a row over California. “We were extremely fortunate Friday that we had a tremendous comeback.” Head Coach Jen Averill said. “The girls really needed to dig deep, and several key players stepped up that second half.”

The Deacons offered six shots at the California goalie before the Bears had the chance to take one. “California put our girls under pressure, forcing some mistakes in the back field, but that win showed our team’s true character,” Averill said.

Unwilling to come down off their four game winning streak, the Deacons beat Pacific 5-1 in their second of three games on their California tour.

Within the first 15 minutes of regulation play, freshman Emily Cummings, sophomore Melissa Martin and Kasold all scored, giving the Deacons a 3-0 lead.

With five minutes left in the first half, Pacific freshman Rachel Taylor scored to narrow the gap, her second goal of the season.

The Deacons immediately responded, starting the first 90 seconds of the second half with two goals by Kasold and Shannon.

In their final California showdown, the Deacons obliterated Stanford 8-0, marking their fifth straight win.

Fries put the first goal on the board, scoring off a penalty corner pass from junior Minou Gimbrere.

Kasold offered another shot halfway through the first period, which found the back of the net.

Martin scored her first of two goals of the game off a pass from Shannon.

Shannon and Martin both scored again, putting the Deacons up 5-0 at the half.

With a new defensive fervor, the Cardinals attempted to hold the Deacons scoreless in the second half.

Unfortunately for them, their luck only lasted 20 minutes of the second half when sophomore Hilary Moore scored two goals less than five minutes apart, at the 57:53 mark and the 61:14 mark.

Senior Lauren Love concluded the game with her first goal of the season, chipping in a loose ball. The Deacons’ eight-goal win marks their largest win margin and most goals scored this season. It is also the first time Stanford has finished a game scoreless. The last time was also to the Deacons, in a game Sept. 6, 2006.

Over the course of the weekend, the Deacons outshot their opponents 73-27 (25-10 California, 27-11 Pacific, 21-8 Stanford), and junior goalie Crystal Duffield had 10 saves.

“Our team just got stronger and stronger with each game,” Averill said. The staff and players were thrilled with the outcome of this weekend. We really needed those wins to keep the momentum going for our next week of tough ACC play.”

The Deacons next take on Virginia Oct. 20 in Kentner Stadium.