Wake Forest University
2-0-0, 0-0-0
Rhode Island
0-2-0, 0-0-0
Demon Deacons Close Out Opening Weekend with 4-1 Victory Over Rhode Island
8/21/2022 9:54:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Wake Forest was propelled by three first half goals, including a pair from freshman Alex Wood.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest women's soccer (2-0-0) picked up its second win of the 2022 season on Sunday night, downing Rhode Island (0-2-0) by a final of 4-1 at Spry Stadium.
The Demon Deacons opened the contest with a heavy presence in the attacking third, resulting in a seventh-minute goal for graduate midfielder Giovanna DeMarco. Undaunted after a Rhode Island response in the 15th minute, Wake Forest went into the halftime break with a 3-1 lead following a first half brace from freshman forward Alex Wood.
Wake Forest scored the match's final goal in the 70th minute when a free kick from freshman Caiya Hanks turned into a goal from junior forward Liv Stowell.
The Deacs will remain home on Thursday afternoon, hosting SEC foe Georgia.
How It Happened
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Wake Forest applied early pressure on the Rams' backline including two corner kicks in the opening five minutes from shots that were deflected.
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Graduate midfielder Giovanna Demarco opened the scoring early for the Deacs in the seventh minute off a corner kick taken by junior midfielder Sophie Faircloth. Faircloth's inswing found the foot of DeMarco, who had her first shot blocked before successfully converting a rebounded ball. The goal was the eighth-career score for the Gwynedd Valley, Pa., native and her first since Oct. 21, 2021.
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Rhode Island, however, tied the contest at 1-1 in the 15th minute.
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Wake Forest continued to dominate in the final third, eventually being rewarded with a penalty kick in the 29th minute. The attempt, however, was saved.
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The Deacs remained resilient, though, as their efforts were rewarded with a 30th-minute goal from freshman forward Alex Wood. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native took advantage of a Rhode Island turnover to power one from the top of the 18-yard box into the back of the net.
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Wood was not done, though, as she collected a first half brace on a goal in the 40th minute. Freshman defender Taryn Chance and sophomore midfielder Malaika Menna logged assists on the effort from Wood.
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Wake Forest extended its lead to 4-1 in the 70th minute, as a free kick from freshman Caiya Hanks turned into a goal from junior forward Liv Stowell. The goal was the first of Stowell's Deacon career.
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The Deacs had sizable advantages in both shots (22-7) and corner kicks (15-1) on the night.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
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The meeting marked the second-ever matchup between Wake Forest and Rhode Island, with the first coming in a 3-2 decision for the Deacs on Sept. 15, 1996.
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Wake Forest's home unbeaten streak has reached four matches dating back to a 1-0 victory over NC State on Oct. 21, 2021.
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Graduate midfielder Giovanna Demarco made her season debut, earning her 55th career start in her fifth season with the Deacs.
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Redshirt junior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Parks made her 30th career start.
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Sophomore defender Tyla Ochoa made her 20th career appearance.
Tony Time with Coach da Luz
"We were pretty sharp, I thought, in the first half. We played some really good soccer. We had nine corners in the first half and a lot of crosses that we should have done better on, execution-wise, but we did a really good job of not letting them put a couple passes together and pressing right away. With the weather and the break, we lost a little bit of rhythm, but in the second half, we played in their half almost the entire time. We've just got to be sharper in the 18, but I like what we're doing" - head coach Tony da Luz
Up Next
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Wake Forest will continue its four-match homestand to open the season on Thursday evening, hosting Georgia in the first contest of a doubleheader at Spry Stadium.
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The match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and it will air on ACC Network Extra.
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Georgia hosted No. 1 Florida State earlier on Sunday, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Seminoles.
Team Stats
Giovanna DeMarco (1)
GOAL by WFU DeMarco, Giovanna.
06:15
Brooke Cavino (1)
Assisted By: Sam Hagerty , Hope Santaniello
GOAL by URI Cavino, Brooke Assist by Hagerty, Sam and Santaniello, Hope.
14:48
Alex Wood (2)
GOAL by WFU Wood, Alex.
29:53
Alex Wood (2)
Assisted By: Malaika Meena , Taryn Chance
GOAL by WFU Wood, Alex Assist by Meena, Malaika and Chance, Taryn.
39:25
Olivia Stowell (1)
GOAL by WFU Stowell, Olivia.
69:21
