Sports > September 11, 2008

By Karissa O’Keefe | Contributing writer

The Wake Forest field hockey team added two more wins to improve to 4-0 on the season. Sept. 5 the No. 3 Deacons upset the No. 1-ranked UNC-Chapel Hill Tar Heels and then defeated No. 7 James Madison University on Sept. 7.

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Junior Raisa Schiller goes for the ball in a recent game against James Madison University. The Deacs look to their next game against Duke at home on Sept. 13. (Kelly Makepeace/Old Gold & Black)

The Wake Forest field hockey team added two more wins to improve to 4-0 on the season.

Sept. 5 the No. 3 Deacons upset the No. 1-ranked UNC-Chapel Hill Tar Heels and then defeated No. 7 James Madison University on Sept. 7.

In the game against the Tar Heels, the two teams were evenly matched. Both teams scored only once during the first half.

In the ninth minute, junior Kim Romansky scored assisted by senior Michelle Kasold. In the 15th minute, the Tar Heels countered on one of their five penalty corners in the first half.

Going into the second half the Deacons dominated time of possession. They had a 4-1 penalty corner advantage and 7-5 shooting advantage. However, neither team was able to score.

The Deacons and Tar Heels were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation time. The game went into two 15 minute overtimes, but still neither team was able to prevail. The match was settled with a stroke shootout.

Junior Regina Shannon and Kasold notched the first two attempts for the Deacons, while the Tar Heels went 1-1. Wake Forest senior goalkeeper Crystal Duffield successfully defended the Demon Deacon goal against Melanie Brill and Britt van Beek, allowing Wake Forest senior Minou Gimbrere to net the game-winning stroke on Wake’s fourth attempt.

The Deacons hosted JMU in Kentner Stadium Sept. 7. Similar to the Deacons’ first two games, the opposing team, JMU, took the early lead and scored a goal in the first six minutes.

However, within 10 minutes, Gimbrere scored from 10 yards out to tie the game. Junior Melissa Martin was credited with the assist.

Later in the game the Deacons scored off of a penalty corner. Gimbrere shot the ball to goal and junior Hilary Moore tapped it in from post.

In the second half the Deacons pushed the lead to two when Gimbrere scored 10 minutes before the end of the game, sealing the victory.

Gimbrere earned a spot in the Women’s Field Hockey.com Honor Roll this week for her standout performances. The midfielder/back from the Netherlands now has two goals and three assists for 2008.

The Deacs moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 in National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll, falling just behind Maryland, who is also 4-0 for the year.

The No. 2-ranked Deacons will face ACC foe No. 6 Duke next.

The Blue Devils will visit Kentner Stadium Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. The following day the Deacons will host Indiana.