Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Kentucky
No. 15 Deacs Claim Opener over Kentucky 3-1
8/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug 23, 2013
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF)
By Steven Wright, Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWSoccer)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - After falling behind 1-0 in the 37th minute, No. 15 Wake Forest rallied with three unanswered goals to take down Kentucky 3-1 in the Demon Deacons' season opener on Friday night at Spry Stadium.
The Deacs' all-time leading goal scorer Katie Stengel did not find the back of the night, but she did set a career-high and tied a school record by assisting on all three of the Wake Forest goals. Freshman Caroline Wootten also had a memorable night by notching her first collegiate goal.
Riley Ridgik and Jackie McSally also scored goals in the contest, while Ally Berry added an assist.
The win gives Wake Forest its sixth straight season-opening win, dating back to the beginning of the 2008 season. The Demon Deacons are also 13-4-3 in season openers in program history.
Wake Forest had a chance to take the lead in the 33rd minute when Berry played a ball through the box to Stengel. She settled the ball and had a nice look at the goal but just missed the target to the right.
Just over three minutes later Kentucky went up 1-0. Stuart Pope received the ball deep in Wake Forest territory and started the break. She laid the ball off to a wide open Jade Klump on her right, and Klump found the back of the net.
The Deacs were able to answer before the half, though, and made the score 1-1. Berry won a ball in the air and sent it to Stengel who used her head to find Wootten behind the Wildcat defense. Wootten took a few touches and tied the score in the 43rd minute.
Wake Forest wasted no time in the second half capturing its first lead of the game. Stengel dribbled through several Kentucky defenders and found a wide open Ridgik on her right side who had an easy finish to put the Deacs up 2-1.
At the 54:12 mark, the game was postponed due to lightning entering an eight-mile radius to the stadium. The game remained halted for one hour and 49 minutes before resuming.
Wake Forest punctuated the victory in the 70th minute on a corner kick. Stengel served it in from the left side and McSally scored on a diving header to put the Demon Deacons up 3-1.
Wake Forest will have tomorrow off before hosting Alabama on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Spry Stadium.
