Women's soccer still golden, stays unbeaten
By Margaret McKenzie
Old Gold and Black Reporter

Superstition is a big part of athletics. Players cherish lucky socks, get motivated to one song before each game, and some even perform unique rituals to keep streaks alive.

However, the Deacs don't worry about superstitions since they are too busy winning. There are no chants or lucky charms. Just hard work and sheer determination that has resulted in total domination, a flawless 9-0 record and a 7th place national ranking.

"There are no lucky charms or rituals," junior midfielder Katherine Winstead said. "Again, we rely on our hard work and team concept. These are the things we can control, and these are the things that will ultimately help us win games."

Wake Forest continued its winning ways with two impressive victories over Maryland and UNC-Greensboro. Maryland fell 3-1 as the Deacs opened conference play at home on Sept 20.

Controlling momentum throughout the majority of the game, the Deacons' offense struck first. In the 42nd minute junior forward Alena Thom dribbled up field laterally and passed the ball between two Terrapin defenders. Winstead ran onto the ball and goalkeeper Mariel Wilner came out of the goal in an attempt to stop the shot. Winstead slid and knocked a shot past Wilner into the back of the goal.

But Maryland answered the goal by using every last second of the 45-minute half. With six seconds remaining, freshman forward Simone Dekker knocked a free kick from Audra Poulin in to tie the game going into the half. The shot seemed to give momentum to Maryland going into the final 45 minutes, but the Deacons controlled the second half.

Winstead struck a second time early in the half. Converting on a beautiful cross into the center from freshman defender Melanie Schneider, Winstead sent her shot into the goal. Schneider added a goal to her assist in the 67th minute. Schneider scored her first career goal sending a shot from the far right corner that bended into the net.

The win put the Deacs at the top of the ACC and started conference play on the right note.

"This was a huge game because we really wanted to go 1-0 in the ACC," Winstead said. "Conference play is extremely important for a number of reasons so it feels really good to start with a win."

The Deacons continued to win on Sept. 25 as they overcame an early first-half deficit to defeat UNCG 4-2. The victory over the Spartans resulted in two milestones for the Deacs; the team's 100th victory of all time and the best start in the history of the nine-year program at 9-0. The Deacons did not take long to score their first goal. Before four minutes had passed sophomore midfilder Alli Hunt and Alena Thom combined on an assist to Winstead. Winstead placed the shot perfectly and put the Deacs on the board first.

But the Spartans did not back down from the Top-10- ranked Deacons. UNCG scored back-to-back goals. Jennifer Kennedy scored first at the 36:48 mark and Cara Hammond gave the Spartans the lead at the 24:37 mark when she sent a shot past senior goalkeeper Erin Regan.

During this period, the Deacons could not seem to find their offensive groove. They were sucked into the physical and long ball style of the Spartans. Both teams were bunching around the ball in the center of the field, but the Deacs did manage to tie the game before the half ended.

With just under 15 minutes left in the first half the Deacons began to play as a team. Senior defender Gabi Lieb started the play when she stole a pass at the top of the penalty box. The Spartan defense held the line, but Lieb sent a pass through the defense finding Winstead. Scoring her second goal of the game, Winstead beat two defenders as she sent the shot into the far corner.

The teams went into the locker rooms tied.The Deacons reorganized at the half and began the second half playing as a new team.

Five minutes into the half the Spartans' goalkeeper fell out of the goal while deflecting a shot. Sophomore defender Megan Mullins rebounded the missed shot, sending the third goal in with ease.

Freshman forward Sarah Kozey added the final insurance goal off an assist from Winstead.

The Deacons will look to go 10-0 on Sept. 29 in Raleigh against N.C. State. The Deacs hope to break more records and defend their position atop the ACC standings.

For her efforts in helping lead the Deacs, junior defender A.B. Robbins was named to the "Elite Team" by Soccer Buzz, for the week of Sept. 9-16. The Elite Team consists of only 11 players nationally. Robbins scored the game-winner against Loyola Marymount on Sept. 14, in the Adidas Invitational.