Sports > October 25, 2007

By Susie Manship | Staff writer

The No. 21 Demon Deacons faced the No. 25 Blue Devils Oct. 18 at Spry Stadium. With both teams at a 2-2-2 ACC record, the game began with Wake dominating the first half of play.

Wake outshot Duke 6-1 in the first half.

Sophomore Jill Hutchinson capitalized on one of these shots from 35 yards away, putting the team up 1-0. Senior Laura Colven was credited for her first assist on the season.

The Blue Devils turned it around in the second half, outshooting the Deacs 5-4.

In the 79th minute, Duke’s C.J. Ludemann tied the game 1-1.

The game on Oct. 18 went through two scoreless overtimes and ended in a draw.

“The lesson we learned from the Duke game is that one goal in the ACC is not enough to solidify a win, we have to finish the chances that we create,” said junior Amy Smerdzinski.

Three days later, the Deacs (3-2-2 in ACC) played the Clemson Tigers (1-4-2 in ACC). The No. 21 Deacs beat Clemson 2-1 moving to fifth overall in the ACC. Wake currently sits two points behind Miami and three points ahead of Duke.

Junior Whitney Berry recorded her first goal on the season off an assist from sophomore Kaley Fountain.

Thirty minutes later the Tigers’ Samantha Foster tied the game up 1-1. Trying to avoid the second consecutive ACC tie, the Deacs fought hard throughout the first overtime.

Only 31 seconds into the second overtime, freshman midfielder Samantha Germano converted a goal to clinch the win for Wake. Freshman goalie Amanda Barasha had a season-high nine saves on the season.

The team is keeping focused as the 2007 season comes to a close.

“We take each game one at a time and focus on the mission at hand,” Smerdzinski said. “We don’t want to look past any team nor do we want to dwell on past wins or losses. The ACC is the most competitive conference in the nation for women’s soccer and at this point in the season we just have to stay focused.”

The team’s last three regular season games begin Oct. 25 at home against the Florida State Seminoles.