Wake Forest Athletics
Women's Soccer Begins Preseason Training
8/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 5, 2010
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest women's soccer team opened its preparations for the 2010 season as head coach Tony da Luz led the team in a pair of training sessions on Thursday. The squad practiced for a full session in the morning, but a thunderstorm cut the afternoon practice short.
The Demon Deacons have two weeks of preseason camp before they begin the regular season on the road at UNC Wilmington on August 20.
Wake Forest brings back five starters from the 2009 squad that went 16-6-2 and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
Headlining the Deacon veterans is senior Bianca D'Agostino who started all 24 games last season, scoring two goals and recording six assists. The Longmeadow, Mass. native was also selected to participate in the U-23 National Team camps in December, January and April, after having traveled to England with the U-23 squad in the summer of 2009.
Sophomore midfielder Ally Berry, who notched seven points last season, will also return, as will sophomore defender Jackie Logue, who earned 22 starts in her rookie season.
The Deacs will have to replace their top three scorers from last season in Kaley Fountain, Jill Hutchinson and Allie Sadow. Fountain was selected by FC Gold Pride in the second round of the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer Draft, while Hutchinson was taken by the Atlanta Beat in the fourth round. In addition, defender Caitlin Farrell, who ranks second in school history with 90 games played, was drafted the Philadelphia Independence and is now playing with FC Twente in the Netherlands.
Wake Forest welcomes 12 new incoming players to fill the gap left by last season's departures - 10 freshmen and two transfers. Highlighting the freshman class are Aubrey Bledsoe, Rachel Nuzzolese and Katie Stengel, who each have experience with U.S. Youth National Teams.
The Demon Deacons will take the field for the first time in 2010 when they host West Virginia in an exhibition match on August 14 at 1 p.m. Wake Forest begins the regular season on the road at UNC Wilmington on August 20, with the home opener coming on August 23 at 7 p.m. against UNC Greensboro.
