Indiana University
Wake Forest
Indiana Drops Tough Battle with Wake Forest
9/5/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Sept. 5, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Despite a strong second half, the Indiana field hockey team could not top the defending national champion Demon Deacons on Sunday. The hard-fought 4-2 outcome is the Hoosiers' first loss of the season. Sophomore goalkeeper Haley Exner recorded a personal and game-best 11 saves for IU.
"I thought that today was a very significant day for this team," assistant coach Gina Lucido said. "Although we fell short of our goal, I think that this will be the fuel for the fire that will develop within the team for the success that will happen the rest of the season. After today, we can say, without a doubt that we can compete with anyone in the county. We are going to take all the good that came out of this loss and turn it in to some great things for the rest of this season."
The dominating Wake Forest offense tallied three goals in the first half. Two of the Demon Deacons' goals were off penalty corners, and the Hoosiers were only able to get off one shot in the first half.
The Hoosiers came out a different team in the second half. Within four minutes of the second period, IU was on the board. Senior Lesley Wiler put one past Wake Forest goalkeeper Kristina Gagliardi off an assist from Frederique Meeuwsen for Indiana's first score. Less then 10 minutes later the Hoosiers closed in on the Demon Deacons by one more goal with a score from junior Morgan Miller off a penalty corner. The assists were credited to sophomore Meredith Brown and Meeuwsen. The goal was Miller's first of the season.
With the score at 3-2, the Hoosiers had the opportunity to tie with another penalty corner, but it was not meant to be as Wake walked away with the tough win.
"I thought both teams played really well," Exner said. "It was a great learning experience for us, and I think we improved in a lot of areas. Our defense got better this game because we were constantly being attacked upon. We won the second half. It was great for this team to come back from being down 3-0. We never counted ourselves out. We proved we can come back when there is adversity."
