Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
AFC Lightning (Ex.)
Wake Forest Wins Exhibition Opener
8/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Wake Forest women's soccer team opened its exhibition season Saturday evening with a 4-2 victory over Atlanta Football Club (AFC) Lightning U-18. Senior midfielder Sarah Kate Noftsinger led the 22nd ranked Demon Deacons with two goals, including the game-winner.
"Our fitness base is not there yet," said Tony da Luz, who enters his fifth season as the head coach at Wake Forest. "We need to make some personnel and technical decisions."
AFC Lightning jumped out early against Wake Forest, cutting through the Demon Deacon defense and launching several shots. Wake Forest goalkeeper Erin Regan stopped the first two, but Lightning forward Tabitha Lowey got past her in the 19th minute to score. Less than four minutes later, the Demon Deacons countered and Stacy Roeck passed a ball from Alena Thom to Noftsinger, who tied the score 1-1, where it remained for the rest of the half.
Kristin Stewart, a forward for AFC Lightning, took a through ball from Dana Van Winkle and slipped it past Regan for a Lightning goal in the 59th minute. Down 2-1, Wake Forest buckled down on defense and brought in more firepower up front. Demon Deacon forwards Lindsey Griffin and Emily Taggart checked in and immediately started firing shots at AFC keeper Lauren Burch. In the 63rd minute, Griffin was dragged down inside the Lightning penalty box and Wake Forest sophomore midfielder Katherine Winstead converted the penalty kick to tie the score 2-2.
Taggart found Noftsinger in the 75th minute and Noftsinger netted the game-winning goal, her second score of the day to give the Demon Deacons a 3-2 lead. Taggart broke loose with less then four minutes remaining and rocketed a shot past Lightning backup keeper, Kristen Rutland.
Wake Forest will return to action Monday, August 27, when the Demon Deacons host Elon in an exhibition match beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Spry Stadium.
