Host Wake Forest blanked Duke, 3-0, to earn its third straight Division I Field Hockey Championship November 21.

The championship contest -- featuring a rematch of last year's finalists -- began as a defensive standoff as neither team mustered a shot for the first 10 minutes. Then after coming away empty on penalty corners at the 26:57 mark and at 22:20, Tamar Meijer put the Deacons ahead, 1-0, on an assist from Kelly Wood with 9:13 left in the first half.

After the break, Wake Forest's Meijer struck again. Just four minutes into the second period, the freshman put away her second score of the game and seventh in the tournament to extend the Deacons' lead to 2-0. Then Wood took a feed from senior Kelly Dostal on a penalty corner and added the third and final score at the 49:56 mark.

"That was the best second-half performance we've had all season. Our attackers have gotten it done all season but today I have to give most of the credit to our defense. They were unbelievable all game," said Wake Forest head coach Jennifer Averill.

Wake Forest netminder Kristina Gagliardi collected two saves and posted her second straight shutout of the tournament. The shutout for Duke marked the first time the Blue Devils have been held scoreless in two seasons. Duke goalkeeper Christy Morgan contributed eight saves in the loss.

Wake Forest, which finished the year 20-3, defeated Maryland by the same 3-0 count to advance from the semifinals. Duke, which clipped Michigan State, 5-2, in the other semifinal, completed an 18-5 slate.

Joining Wake Forest's Dostal and Gagliardi on the all-tournament team were fellow Deacons Claire Laubach, Ariel Meyers and Maeke Boreel; Paula Infante of Maryland; Veerle Goudswaard from Michigan State; and Gracie Sorbello, Katie Grant, Hilary Linton and Amy Stopford of Duke.

Semifinals

First half: D -- Nicole Dudek (Cara-Lynn Lopresti), 4:13; MS -- Veerle Goudswaard (Breanna Harpstead and Jessica Miller), 19:39; D -- Katie Grant (Dudek), 23:23.

Second half: MS -- Goudswaard (Miller and Harpstead), 38:54; D -- Hilary Linton (Gracie Sorbello), 42:33; D -- Sorbello (unassisted), 49:32; D -- Amy Stopford (unassisted), 53:04.

Shots: Michigan St. 15, Duke 15. Goalkeeper saves: Michigan St. (Christina Kirkaldy) 2, Duke (Christy Morgan) 6. Penalty corners: Michigan St. 5, Duke 7.

First half: WF -- Lauren Crandall (Maeke Boreel and Claire Laubach) penalty corner, 30:01; WF -- Kelly Dostal (Boreel), 33:21.

Second half: WF -- Tamar Meijer (unassisted), 48:52.

Shots: Maryland 6, Wake Forest 11. Goalkeeper saves: Maryland (Kathryn Masson) 4, Wake Forest (Kristina Gagliardi) 3. Penalty corners: Maryland 2, Wake Forest 6.

Championship game

First half: WF -- Tamar Meijer (Kelly Wood), 25:47.

Second half: WF -- Meijer (unassisted), 39:11; WF -- Wood (Kelly Dostal) penalty corner, 49:56.

Shots: Duke 8, Wake Forest 16. Goalkeeper saves: Duke (Christy Morgan) 8, Wake Forest (Kristina Gagliardi) 2. Penalty corners: Duke 3, Wake Forest 7.