Penn State Stuns No. 2 Wake Forest In Semifinals

Nittany Lions earn another upset, advance to National Championship game

Nov. 16, 2007

By Eric Detweiler

Special to CSTV.com

The Penn State field hockey faithful were pumped up as the team broke the huddle following a Wake Forest timeout holding a 2-0 lead with 10:32 remaining in Friday night's NCAA tournament semifinal at the University of Maryland's Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.

The players seemed just as enthused as junior Britney Long waived her arms trying to fire up the crowd before the Demon Deacons put the ball back into play, but the team knew there was still work to be done, according to senior Shaun Banta.

"Obviously, we were really excited, but we knew that we had 10 minutes, and we knew that they came back strong after goals, so we kind of said, `OK. We're good, but take a deep breath, and we've got to play defense now." Banta said. "We just had to stay focused."

The strategy paid off and the Nittany Lions, who had just four shots in the game, withstood a late flurry of offensive chances in an otherwise quiet offensive game for the 2-0 win. Penn State advances to play top-seeded North Carolina on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. for the national championship.

The Nittany Lions were the only unseeded team to make the final four, but after three tournament wins against ACC opponents, they will play in the title game for the first time since 2002.

"I just can't continue to say how proud I am of this group," 21st year coach Char Morett said. "When you watch them play, they play with such fire and determination and really take advantage of opportunities inside the circle."

As in its win on Sunday over No. 2 Maryland, Penn State struck early and then locked down on defense.

The Nittany Lions scored on the game's first penalty corner and their first shot. Allison Scola played the ball from the end line to Jen Long, who played off to Mallory Weisen. Weisen's shot struck the foot of a Demon Deacon and deflected into the back of the net, giving Penn State the lead 14 minutes, three seconds into the game.

Neither team had many good opportunities the rest of the half. The Demon Deacons failed to capitalize on three penalty corners and each team only managed two shots apiece.

The second half provided more of the same, until Banta stole the ball in Wake Forest's half and broke down the right side. She cut up near the end line, and retained position until she was in front of the net where she flicked the ball around goalie Crystal Duffield.

Then came the timeout where Morett said she told her team the importance of playing defense, and Banta said her coach told them "about 20 things we had to do better."

The Demon Deacons came out strong, generating a scoring opportunity right away, but in a scramble they couldn't poke the ball past Nittany Lion goalie Jen Beaumont, who recorded her second straight shutout.

Five of Wake Forest's eight shots came after the time out, but they realized it was too little, too late. Sophomore Aileen Davis said her team didn't handle Penn State's pressure well and became too "frantic"

"If it was maybe 2-1 against us, we would've at least given ourselves a good chance of getting back in it," Davis said. "I just think the second goal was just a little too late on in the game, and we just weren't settled."

Wake Forest coach Jennifer Averill, whose team was making its eighth straight final four appearance, was disappointed with getting outplayed and said her team lacked rhythm.

"It's hard to end your season with a game like that," Averill said. "I don't mind losing. I just don't like losing a game like that. I know the kids don't either."

The Nittany Lions, meanwhile, are ready for a rematch with the Tar Heels, who beat them 6-0 in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Sept. 16. Morett joked that she didn't think her team played in that game, and Beaumont called it the low point of the season. Beaumont said the team has come a long way since the loss. Junior Allison Scola agreed, saying the team needs to stay focused and confident to maintain its recent high level of play.

"Our main word is just `believe,'" Scola said. "We just have to go out there and believe. We just need to stick to our game plan and not worry about what they're doing. We have to worry about what we have to do."