This wasn't the way they wanted to go out.
With its postseason on the line, the field hockey team took Wake Forest into double-overtime yesterday, but lost 3-2.
Wake Forest (11-8, 1-3 in the ACC) and Duke (10-10, 0-4) have faced off in the last 10 play-in games to the ACC Championships, generally battling to close scores.
"This was a typical Wake-Duke match," said coach Liz Tchou. "I am very proud of the kids and their improvement throughout the season, and I'm just sad it's over."
Two minutes into the sudden-death second overtime period, Demon Deacon Lisa Andries deflected a pass from Amy Marchell into the goal cage, ending the Blue Devils' season and sending Wake Forest into the semifinals against Virginia.
Earlier this season, No. 13 Duke beat No. 20 Wake Forest in double-overtime at the East Campus Turf Field.
"I can assuredly empathize with Duke," said Wake Forest coach Jen Averill. "Duke is an excellent team and this a horrible way to win or lose. "
The Blue Devils led through most of the game, getting on the board first with a goal from senior Mary Jo Reider halfway through the first period. Reider intercepted a pass and dribbled just inside the 16-yard circle, where she took a hard shot that got past Deacon goalie Meaghan Nitka.
Just before halftime, the Demon Deacons answered, when Kelly Malinoski pounced on a scramble in front of the goal cage.
Wake Forest stepped up its defense in the second half, holding the Blue Devils to just one shot. But Duke made it count.
With 12:25 left in the second half, Corey Ceccolini intercepted a 16-yard hit to score the last of her many goals this season.
But with just 3:37 remaining in the game, the Demon Deacons came back again, evening the score at two off a goal by Nienke van Ruiten on a penalty corner.
Each team had a penalty corner in the first overtime period, but neither one could put the ball in the cage. Wake's van Ruiten nearly put the game away in the first minute of overtime when she faced a one-on-one with Duke goalie Jenn Robb, but van Ruiten flicked the ball high and wide.
Andries' goal gave Wake Forest only its second-ever win in the ACC Tournament. Its only other win, also a 3-2 victory, came against Duke in 1994.
"[The match was] typical of the contests between these two schools," Averill said. "I am excited and enthusiastic about meeting Virginia tomorrow."
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