Wake Forest Athletics
Women's Soccer Travels To Connecticut adidas Soccer Classic
8/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 28, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Games #1 and #2
- UConn adidas Classic
- UConn Women's Soccer Webpage
- August 29-31, 2003
Friday:
- Notre Dame vs. Hartford, 4:30
- Wake Forest vs. Connecticut, 7:00
Sunday:
- Notre Dame vs. Wake Forest, noon
- Connecticut vs. Central Connecticut, 2:30
UConn...This meeting between the Demon Deacons and Huskies will be the first ever meeting between the two programs. The Wake Forest and UConn men's squads have met three times with the Deacons holding a 2-0-1 advantage. In fact, the Huskie men travel to Winston-Salem this weekend for the Wake Forest adidas Invitational.
Notre Dame...This meeting is the second matchup with the Fighting Irish and first since Sept. 27, 1998. On that day, Notre Dame blanked Wake Forest, 3-0, but Erin Regan shined with 12 saves.
While Wake Forest has faced Notre Dame just once and never played UConn, the Deacs have faced other Big East foes - Providence, Rutgers, Villanova and Virginia Tech. Wake Forest is 6-1-0 all-time against the Big East.
Team Record Last MeetingNotre Dame 0-1-0 L, 0-3 (9/27/98)Providence 1-0-0 W, 11-1 (9/14/96)Rutgers 2-0-0 W, 4-2 (9/21/96)Villanova 2-0-0 W, 2-0 (9/6/97)Virginia Tech 1-0-0 W, 5-1 (9/17/00)
Last Time Out...Wake Forest sophomore Sarah Kozey scored two goals and assisted on another as the Demon Deacon women's soccer team notched a 3-0 exhibition victory against Virginia Tech on Aug. 23 at Spry Stadium.
Kozey gave Wake Forest an early lead with a goal in the 14th minute. Her shot from the top of the penalty area barely floated over the goalline before a Virginia Tech defender blocked the ball. However, the referee's assistant was on top of the play and ruled it a goal.
Wake Forest took their one goal lead into locker room at halftime with a 9-3 edge in shots.
In the early stages of the second half, Kozey started the goal sequence, leaving the ball for senior A.B. Robbins on the left side of the penalty area. Robbins dropped a perfect ball at the feet of freshman Kaitlyn Doe in the penalty area who found the back of the net in the 57th minute.
Wake Forest put the finishing touches on the victory with Kozey's second goal of the night. Freshman Taylor Toombs assisted on the play in the 66th minute.
Wake Forest outshot the Hokies 15-7 for the game and committed only two fouls to Virginia Tech's 12.
The Deacons used three goalkeepers during the contest. Kenna Healy played the first half and made one save. Freshmen Alex Creswick and Kaitlyn Doe shared time in the second half. Doe made two stops while Creswick did not face a shot on goal.
Scouting The Tournament... This is the weekend opener for all four teams - Wake Forest, UConn, Notre Dame and Hartford. The Irish, ranked among the top-10 in all four major preseason polls, went 13-8-0 overall, 4-3-0 in the BIG EAST - reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies captured the BIG EAST regular season and tournament championship, but fell just one game shy of the NCAA College Cup. The Hawks went 14-7-0 last season and won the America East Tournament - earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Tony's Take On Connecticut... UConn advanced all the way to the NCAA quarterfinals last year. They bring in an outstanding recruiting class, including two of the top freshmen in the entire country. They will be as good as last year, if not better. The challenge will be great, especially when you consider it is there home opener as well."
Tony's Take On Notre Dame... Notre Dame might have added the best recruiting class in the entire nation this season. They are absolutely loaded. It will be quite a formidable task. They have not gone through any exhibition work yet this season, so this weekend is truly their opening weekend."
New Faces ... Same Expectations... The word "rebuilding" has been tossed around by some outside the Wake Forest women's soccer program in regards to the upcoming 2003 season. With the loss of seven seniors - including five starters - some might think that is the case, but with the addition of 13 talented freshmen and the return of 11 letterwinners the Deacons will make another run at the NCAA Tournament.
Deacons Picked Seventh... Wake Forest was picked seventh in the 2003 ACC Women's Soccer Coaches Poll. North Carolina was the odds-on-favorite according to the coaches. The Tar Heels garnered seven of the eight first place votes. Virginia received the only other first place vote. The Cavaliers were chosen second, followed by Florida State, Clemson, Maryland, Duke, the Deacons and NC State.
Wake Returns Top Three Scorers ... But... The Deacons return its top three scorers from last season, Katherine Winstead, Alena Thom and Sarah Kozey, but two of those three will move into the defense this season. Winstead and Thom will anchor, along with Keisha Garick and Melanie Schneider, the back four. Kozey will see most of her time on the outside.
Healy Takes Over Between Pipes... After two seasons behind Erin Regan, Healy will open the 2003 season as the starting goalkeeper for the Deacons. The junior has played in just five games over her first two seasons.
Lucky Number 13... Wake Forest welcomes 13 freshmen - the largest freshman class in the history of the program - in 2003.
Robbins Moves Up... Senior A.B. Robbins developed into one of the better marking backs in the entire ACC over the past three seasons, but Robbins will push up into an attacking role this season. Robbins, who scored five goals from the back last season, gives Wake Forest some much needed size and strength in the attacking third.
Wake Forest And Season Openers... The Deacons are 6-2-1 all-time in their season openers. Wake Forest has not lost a season opener since it dropped the first game of the 1995 season. The Deacons lost at #4 Duke, 2-1.
Wake Forest Lands 26th Best Recruiting Class... Not only was the 2003 recruiting class the largest in Wake Forest history, but it was also recognized by SoccerBuzz Magazine as the 26th best in the entire country.
Up Next... After this weekend, the Deacons will return home and prepare for its season opener Sept. 4 against Liberty. Kick-off at Spry Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wake Forest leads the all-time series with the Flames, 2-0.
