No. 10 Duke Inches Past Wake Forest, 3-2

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- No. 10-ranked Duke came out on top of Wake Forest, 3-2, after a back-and-forth game at Spry Stadium on Thursday night.

The Demon Deacons (5-3-2, 0-1-1 ACC) battled back from a 2-1 deficit with a Hulda Arnarsdottir goal in the 81st minute, but the Blue Devils (6-1-2, 1-0-1 ACC) answered back by scoring in the 85th minute.

"It was back-and-forth because we kept passing the ball to the other team. We don't want back-and-forth, we want to control the ball and control the game," head coach Tony da Luz said. "We gave up three goals; if you're going to give up three goals in an ACC game, you're going to lose and there's really no doubt about it. We have to prevent goals and we have to get shutouts in order to get wins in this league."

Wake Forest jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the fourth minute. Hannah Betfort sent a long ball from the back line to Ryanne Brown along the right side, who sent a ball towards the goal line where Hayley Younginer finished it off with a sliding tap in.

Marykate McGuire tied it up for Duke in the 14th minute on a one-timer off a Tess Boade cross.

Duke scored again three minutes into the second half courtesy of a Mackenzie Pluck goal and Ella Stevens assist to take a 2-1 lead.

Another clinical long ball from Betfort in the 81st minute found Arnarsdottir streaking towards the edge of the box, where she beat the keeper far post for the equalizer.

The Blue Devils took the lead for good when Lily Nabet hit the crossbar with a header and Mia Gyau was there to put away the rebound.

Wake Forest plays host to another in-state ACC rival on Sunday, welcoming NC State to Spry Stadium for a 7 p.m. game on RSN.

Next Event

Team Stats

Hulda Arnarsdottir

Hayley Younginer

Hannah Betfort

Ryanne Brown

Players Mentioned

Hulda Arnarsdottir

Hannah Betfort

Ryanne Brown

Hayley Younginer

Players Mentioned

Hulda Arnarsdottir

Hannah Betfort

Ryanne Brown

Hayley Younginer

Wake Forest Athletics