SPORTS

 

DAVIDSON — The Davidson field hockey team turned in one of its top performances of the year Sunday in a 2-1 home loss to No. 20 Wake Forest at Belk Turf Field.

First-year Davidson head coach Zoe Almquist said the contest “felt like a real step forward for our program.”

“It shows we can hang in there with anyone in the country and the level we have if we all put it together at one time,” she said. “Wake Forest is a standard. They are an excellent team year over year over year.”

All the game’s scoring came in the third quarter, after more than 31 minutes of 0-0 play.

Wake Forest, which lost 3-1 to No. 1 North Carolina on Friday, scored both of its goals on penalty corners that were finished by Anne van Hoof. Her first one came in the 32nd minute, and Davidson answered less than two minutes later on a goal by Valerie Hajek. In the 41st minute, van Hoof struck again to make it 2-1.

But throughout, Almquist was pleased with her team’s offensive attack and its defensive play, even after she pulled keeper Sarah Zeszotarski in an effort to create offense with 4:36 remaining. The Wildcats denied one shot on goal and a corner in that final stretch to stay within striking distance, giving their coach one more example of what they can do.

“It shows the level we have for our program and where we could be going,” she said.

Up Next
After four straight at home, Davidson returns to the road to face Atlantic 10 leader St. Joseph’s on Friday, Oct. 25 at 3 p.m. The Hawks are ranked No. 12 nationally.