Wake Forest Drops 1-0 Decision at No. 8 Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Despite a stellar defensive effort, the Wake Forest women's soccer team (9-5-2, 3-5 ACC) fell to No. 8 Virginia (11-2-3, 4-2-2 ACC), 1-0, Thursday night at Klöckner Stadium.

Wake Forest held Virginia to only seven shots and two corner kicks, both of which are the second-fewest the Cavaliers have attempted in a match this season.

The two teams were engaged in a defensive battle in the first half as the opening 45 minutes featured only three shots and one corner.

After entering the halftime break knotted at 0-0, Virginia broke the scoreless tie three minutes into the second frame on a goal from Maggie Cagle. Carly Wilson nearly tied up the match just 20 seconds later when she fired a shot toward the center of the goal but Virginia goalkeeper Emma Dawson corralled the shot attempt.

The Demon Deacons continued to pressure Virginia's backline throughout the second half, but the Cavaliers refused to relinquish the equalizer and held on for the 1-0 victory.

For the match, redshirt junior Kaitlyn Parks registered five saves in goal for the Deacs.

Wake Forest will look to bounce back Sunday when the Demon Deacons welcome No. 5 Notre Dame to Spry Stadium.

How It Happened

Parks was called into action in the ninth minute, as she denied Virginia's Cagle from opening the scoring.
- A few minutes later, she collected a free kick from Lia Godfrey.
Virginia earned the first corner of the game in the 19th minute.
Wake Forest came close to taking a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute but was ruled offside.
Parks came up with her third save of the game with just a few seconds remaining in the first half, as she easily stopped a headed attempt from Claire Constant down the middle of the net.
For the second-consecutive game, the Demon Deacons went into the half with both teams scoreless.
- Shots favored Virginia, 3-0, as well as possession, 62%.
Cagle broke the deadlock shortly after the restart, as she got on the end of a low cross from Haley Hopkins to give Virginia the lead.
Wilson took the first Wake Forest shot of the game in the 49th minute.
- Virginia goalkeeper Cayla White collected her first save in the process.
Parks came up with another huge save to keep it a one-goal game in the 59th minute, as she denied Hopkins from just a few yards out.
Wake Forest earned its first corner of the game in the 74th minute.
Parks denied Emma Dawson for her fifth save of the night in the 75th minute.
Sophie Faircloth fired a free kick on target with five minutes to go, but White was able to keep her clean sheet alive.

Demon Deacon Details of Note

Zara Chavoshi and Giovanna DeMarco both reached the 1,000-minutes played mark, as they became the seventh and eighth outfield players on the team to do so.
Hannah Johnson made her 15th appearance of the season.
Parks made her 45th career appearance.
Faircloth made her 41st career start.
Kristin Johnson made her 36th career appearance.
Liv Stowell made her 21st career start.

Tony Time with Coach da Luz
"We defended very well in the first half, putting ourselves in a good position going into the second half. We started the second half too slow and paid the price. Our kids responded well and fought our way back into the game. We created some good attacking opportunities but didn't execute the final play. We need to improve our play in the final third, while also being more precise in our crossing, shooting and attacking set pieces. We will work hard and put a complete game together on Sunday versus Notre Dame. We are on the cusp of a big win." - head coach Tony da Luz

Up Next
The Demon Deacons will return to Spry Stadium Sunday (Oct. 23) to face No. 5 Notre Dame in the final regular-season home contest of the 2022 campaign.

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Team Stats

Giovanna DeMarco

Emily Morris

Sophie Faircloth

Carly Wilson

Players Mentioned

Zara Chavoshi

Giovanna DeMarco

Sophie Faircloth

Hannah Johnson

Kristin Johnson

Liv Stowell

Carly Wilson

Players Mentioned

Zara Chavoshi

Giovanna DeMarco

Sophie Faircloth

Hannah Johnson

Kristin Johnson

Liv Stowell

Carly Wilson

Wake Forest Athletics