Sports > October 16, 2008

By Chris Tumminello | Staff writer

The No. 15-ranked women’s soccer team lost 3-1 in a hard-fought battle against No. 11 Duke (10-2-1, 2-1-1 ACC) at Koskinen Stadium on Oct. 9. The defeat marked the third straight conference loss for the Deacs and placed them in the bottom half of the ACC standings.

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Senior midfielder Amanda Lebo heads a ball against Cal State Fullerton earlier this season. The Deacons lost to Duke Oct. 9 by a score of 3-1 but bounced back against Clemson capturing a 2-0 victory. (Mary Kate Wagner / Old Gold & Black)

Junior defender Kaley Fountain scored the only goal for the Deacs, her second of the season, in the 74th minute of play. Fountain’s goal was not enough to overcome the three goal deficit.

The Deacons out-shot Duke 9-6 and had seven more corner kick opportunities than the Blue Devils, yet Wake could not capitalize on the advantages

Duke jumped ahead first in the 37th minute and again in the 54th and 66th minutes of play to build a 3-0 lead that was ultimately insurmountable.

The Deacons attempted to rally back in the final 15 minutes with three shots on goal, but Duke goalkeeper Cassidy Powers held strong to secure victory.

Despite the frustrating loss to Duke, the team showed life once again, decisively earning a 2-0 conference victory over Clemson (5-6-1, 1-3-1 ACC) on Oct. 12.

On a day when the squad honored its six seniors, all of which were in the starting lineup, it was clear from the start that the experience carried the Deacons in a game in which they dominated on offense and defense.

The Deacs wasted no time at all, scoring in the fourth minute on a beautiful cross by senior Whitney Berry and a resolute finish by junior Jill Hutchinson. Berry crossed the ball in from the right side of the field into the six-yard box where Hutchinson was able to bury it just inside the left post for her team-leading seventh goal of the season.

Wake Forest dominated the possession of the ball for the remainder of the game, out-shooting Clemson 18-3.

Clemson goalkeeper Paula Pritzen was peppered with shots for an entire 90 minutes of play, as the Deacs recorded eight total shots on goal, all of which had Pritzen scrambling with urgency.

The Deacs delivered an insurance goal in the 82nd minute on a 22-yard shot from senior Amy Smerdzinski.

“Sarah Winslow got the ball right outside the 18-yard box and, with great composure, was able to find my feet at the top of the box,” Smerdzinski said. “I took a touch and shot it.”

The shot scraped the back netting of the top-left corner of the goal.

The goal was certainly a crucial one at a late moment of a game in which the Deacs had plenty of opportunities to score.

“When I saw it hit the back of the net it was a great feeling and a sense of relief because being up 2-0 is much more relaxing than 1-0,” Smerdzinski said.

“It definitely took the wind out of Clemson with only about eight minutes left and with the way we possessed the ball, we felt sure of the victory.”

Wake Forest junior goalkeeper Laura Morse secured victory by saving Clemson’s single shot on goal and recorded her fifth shutout of the year.

Next up for the 9-4 Deacs is a trip to Tallahassee, Fla., Oct. 16 to take on the Florida State Seminoles