SOCCER STUNS WAKE FOREST 2-1

Friday, September 10

Winston-Salem, NC

5:30 p.m.

Colorado

3-1-1

Wake Forest University

3-1-1

Colorado

Wake Forest

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

September 10, 2004 | Soccer

Box Score

By: CUBuffs.com

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - An Ashlie Mihalcin goal in the 35th minute and a Wake Forest own goal in the 74th gave the University of Colorado soccer team an exciting 2-1 win over the previously unbeaten Demon Deacons in the first meeting between the two programs in the second match of the Wake Forest/Adidas Soccer Classic under the lights at Spry Stadium here Friday night.

The win is Colorado's first against an ACC opponent in five tries and Mihalcin's first half goal was also the first score against the conference.

"Usually in an evenly played match like that the home team gets lucky. This was a good college soccer game. It was a great test for us to gut it out to preserve the win," said head coach Bill Hempen who improves to 6-3-1 against his former ACC rival. "And Ashlie is tough and we have size and use it the best we can."

With Wake Forest forcing the Buffs to play on their heels to start the match, Colorado had a scare on defense in the 12th minute when Wake Forest's Elizabeth Remy sent a cross from the right flank intended for Sarah Kozey and Buff defender Darci Smerchek's header to clear the ball after intercepting the cross was a near own-goal as the ball just missed the right post, setting up the game's first corner kick.

After trading several possessions, CU's Ashlie Mihalcin nearly connected on her third goal of the season when a free kick from Laura Munnelly from the right flank was met by both Mihalcin whose immediate header was met by Wake Forest keeper Ruth Ann Supica who punched the ball for the save in the 19th minute.

Wake Forest returned the scoring attempt when Remy found herself with a one-on-one with CU keeper Jessica Keller before being called offsides in the 25th minute. Keeping the pressure on, Wake's Melanie Schneider, Kozey and Remy's combination set up Remy's first shot of the game from point blank range which was punched by Keller who picked up her own rebounded ball in the 31st minute.

Mihalcin eventually broke the stalemate when the Buffs' first corner in the 34th minute was kicked out of bounds, setting up their second and with just under 10 minutes to play in the half, Ellen Falender's corner kick was first headed by Tricia Regan which met Mihalcin on the left post whose header fell into the upper 90 for her third score of the season.

"Tricia did what she was supposed to do and kept it in," said Mihalcin. "We've been working on set plays over and over."

The Demon Deacons responded immediately with Remy breaking through the Colorado defense on the next possession and pulling Keller out of goal and towards the right post, dumped the ball to the right which went just wide right of the net. CU's next possession resulted in their third corner and Falender's kick to Mihalcin resulted in another score by the defender turned midfielder for the second straight game which was immediately called back due to a Regan foul in the scramble in front of the net.

Seemingly long overdue for a score, Wake Forest's Alli Hunt served Remy the ball just inside the box and WFU's seventh shot of the game, and 13th between the two teams, was lobbed high over Keller's reach and fell into the lower right corner of the net in the 42nd minute sending both team's into the halftime break with the game knotted at a goal apiece, 13 shots, four on goal, five corners and 11 fouls between the two teams.

With both offensive-minded teams picking up where they left off, Allie True took CU's second shot of the half in the 62nd minute and the save sent Wake Forest down the field with Schneider breaking through the CU defense before being called offsides with no one between her and Keller.

Colorado took the 2-1 lead in the 74th minute when a Kathryn Grandinetti corner kick deflected off Wake Forest's Lindsey Jaco for the own goal. The score was CU's second of the game off a corner kick and second of the game. Wake nearly answered in the 79th when Taylor Toombs shot from the top of the box skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Still on the attack, Remy's shot in the 86th minute was rebounded off Keller and picked up by Jayme Liegh Cargnoni and her shot that followed was snatched by Keller for her seventh save of the game. Less than two minutes later a Wake Forest free kick crossed the box and eventually cleared by Smerchek. Wake would go on to outshoot the Buffs 10-4 in the second half, 17-10 for the game.

The Buffs continue play in the Wake Forest/Adidas Soccer Classic on Sunday, Sept. 12 when they take on Utah (3-1-1), 3-1 winners over Denver in the Classic's first match tonight, in a 9:30 a.m. (MT) kickoff.