Liberty Senior Day spoiled by No. 18 Demon Deacons in final home game
Liberty’s field hockey team (7-9) suffered a 1-3 loss on Senior Day to Wake Forest University (10-7) at the Liberty Field Hockey Field Oct. 30.
The first goal scored by Liberty was by senior defender Serena Barr and assisted by freshman midfielder Agueda Moroni at the 27th minute.
It was shot low into the right side of the goal.
“Our goal was really nice,” Coach Jodi Murphy said. “It was a great execution of a penalty corner on the part of Serena and Agueda.”
Wake Forest forward Jule Grashoff scored the second goal with assists from midfielders Megan Anderson and Emily Conroe. It was shot into the top left corner at the 29th minute.
ATTACK — Sophomore mid elder Abby Julius has five goals and four assists on the season. Photo credit: Caroline Sellers
Liberty used a strategy that they have benefitted from throughout the season, taking timeouts to get reenergized and regrouped.
“Being able to push through after a time out and getting that goal as soon as we can is important,” Barr said.
Jule Grashoff scored the third goal off a penalty stroke in the 54th minute.
“They were a strong team,” Barr said. “When we look at the film, we Will see where we can improve,”
Liberty struggled to come back after Wake Forest took the lead, but Barr said it will be used as a lesson for the next game.
“It is always hard to fight back in a game, but it’s something we need to learn and come back with next time,” Barr said.
Murphy said the girls prepare for these games by watching film, team meetings, practice, treatment and rehab. It helps them to know what to expect and how to handle each situation.
“The skill we best performed was being able to weather the calls we did not get against us,” Murphy said. “We did not lose our cool, and we kept our composure.”
The fourth goal of the game was scored by Wake Forest forward Sarah Thornhill with assistance from Grashoff.
It was passed to the center and shot into the right side at the 62nd minute.
Liberty’s freshman goal keeper Allison Schaefer saved five shots in the first half and four in the second.
Liberty struggled with making passes during the game.
They were keeping it too long, which Murphy said needs to change before the next game.
“For this game, we just got caught up into old habits,” Murphy said. “We are dribbling too much and not passing enough, which must change.”
Wake Forest’s goalkeeper, Cat O’Connor, had two saves the first half and none the second.
Liberty received three penalty corners in the first half and one in the second.
They also took six shots in the first half and three in the second.
Wake Forest received three penalty corners in the first half and one in the second.
They took nine shots the first half and seven in the second.
Barr said Liberty struggled to find successful passes.
“We need to learn to use each other and overlapping passes,” Barr said.
“Finding a way to come back is going to help us in the next game.”
Liberty’s next game is against Providence for the Big East Conference Championship at Temple in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Nov. 4.
Deutsch is a sports reporter.