Wake Forest women defeat Miami

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Bess Harrington and Jackie Logue each scored for the first time in 2009 as No. 6 Wake Forest defeated Miami 2-0 on a chilly Sunday afternoon at Spry Stadium.

The Demon Deacons won their fifth straight, improving their record to 12-2-1 and 4-1-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Miami dropped to 7-8-0 and 2-4-0 in league play.

After a scoreless first half, the game opened up in the second 45 minutes, with the two teams combining for 15 shots. Wake tallied two goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half as Harrington scored in the 47th minute and Logue scored in the 53rd minute.

Junior Amanda Barasha recorded her fifth straight shutout in goal for the Deacs. Barasha made two saves, including a stop on a penalty kick in the second half that would have cut the lead to 2-1. For the season, Barasha lowered her goals against average to 0.29.

Harrington and Logue each found the back of the net for the first time on the season. The goal for Harrington was the third of her career, while Logue scored for the first time in her collegiate career.

Bianca D’Agostino assisted on the goal from Logue for her fifth assist of the season.

Vikki Alonzo suffered the loss in goal for Miami, allowing two goals and making two saves. Jordan Roseboro led the Hurricanes offensively with three shots, including two shots on goal.

Wake Forest held a 10-9 advantage in shots, including a 4-2 edge in shots on goal. The Deacs had seven corner kicks, while Miami had four corners.

Each team had trouble generating offensive opportunities in the first 45 minutes as Wake had three shots, while Miami attempted just one. The Deacs had two chances in the first 10 minutes of the half. Kaley Fountain had a shot from 16 yards out in the eighth minute that went wide and Jill Hutchinson had a look from in front that sailed high of the goal in the ninth minute.

The two teams were able to turn up the offensive pressure in the second half. Wake Forest grabbed the lead on a goal in the 47th minute. Alonzo attempted to tip a header shot away, but instead the ball landed right in front of the goal. Harrington was there to finish from point blank range to put the Demon Deacons in front 1-0.

The Deacs quickly doubled the lead on a goal off a corner kick in the 53rd minute. D’Agostino’s corner found Logue inside the six-yard box, who headed the ball in from four yards out to make the score 2-0.

Wake Forest continued to apply the pressure and nearly had a third goal just a minute later. Fountain was fouled inside the 18-yard box, setting up a penalty kick for D’Agostino. D’Agostino aimed her kick for the left side of the net, but Alonzo was able to make a diving save to keep the game at 2-0.

Miami had its first quality chance of the match in the 61st minute. Ashlee Burt played a through ball that found Roseboro down the middle of the field. Roseboro was one-on-one with Barasha, but her shot attempt went wide left of the goal to keep the Hurricanes off the scoreboard.

The Hurricanes had a penalty kick of their own in the 68th minute after a foul was called on Wake Forest inside the 18. Roseboro took the kick, aiming for the left side of the net. Barasha was able to make a diving save and send the ball out for a corner.

Miami was unable to put another shot on frame in the final 22 minutes as the Deacs held on for their fifth straight shutout victory.

Wake Forest returns to action on Thursday, playing host to No. 16 Virginia Tech. Start time is set for 7 p.m.