Wake Forest Athletics
Da Luz Releases Wake Forest's 2016 Schedule
5/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWSoccer)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest head women's soccer coach Tony da Luz released the 2016 schedule on Tuesday, featuring 11 of the 18 regular season games at Spry Stadium.
"The fall season can't get here fast enough. We had a really productive spring in terms of getting results and establishing our style of play," da Luz said. "The team played attractive soccer and is very motivated to keep that momentum going into the season."
After an exhibition at James Madison and another versus Coastal Carolina, Wake Forest opens the regular season with the Wake Forest Invitational presented by The Loop Pizza Grill on August 19 and 21, with games scheduled against San Diego and La Salle, as well as a pair of neutral games featuring NC State.
The Demon Deacons then travel to Florida International and UNCG before returning home for the Demon Deacon Challenge, also presented by The Loop Pizza Grill, on Sept. 2 and 4. Wake Forest takes on Dartmouth and New Hampshire in addition to welcoming Gardner-Webb to Winston-Salem.
Wake Forest continues its five-game homestand with contests against Old Dominion and Davidson before opening ACC play. Seven of Wake Forest's 10 ACC opponents were NCAA qualifiers a year ago, including national runner-up Duke and College Cup qualifier Florida State.
"When you play in the ACC, it's impossible not to have a difficult schedule," da Luz added. "In the non-conference portion, we looked for teams with different styles of play. When you get into the postseason you have to be ready for anything. Our conference schedule may be the most difficult in the league and we're looking forward to that. After so many close games last fall, our group learned some important lessons about what it takes to win in the ACC."
The Deacs open league action at home against Clemson on Sept. 16 before hitting the road for three straight at Florida State, NC State and Miami.
Wake Forest returns to Spry Stadium for four of the next five: a home game versus Duke, road game at North Carolina, and home contests against Boston College, Syracuse and Notre Dame. The Deacs close the regular season on the road at Virginia Tech.
After qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for 17 seasons from 1996-2013, Wake Forest looks to snap a two-season skid in the upcoming fall. The Deacs finished the 2016 spring slate with a 5-0-2 record.
