Wake Forest Women’s Soccer to Embark on International Journey to Spain
2/17/2023 2:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Demon Deacons will visit Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona during the nine-day escapade.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – In a devoted effort to create a World-Class Student-Athlete Experience, and in conjunction with Navigo Sports Tours, the Wake Forest women's soccer program will embark on an enticing nine-day international adventure to Spain from March 4-12.
Highlighted by friendly matches against Getafe CF, Valencia CF and CE Sant Gabriel, the team will go on a variety of excursions, including a visit to Montserrat's mountaintop monastery in Barcelona on Friday, March 10.
Like the Demon Deacons' trip to France in 2018, the program will also attend a professional soccer match while overseas.
The Trip (Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona)
The group will depart from the United States on Saturday, March 4, eventually landing in Madrid on Sunday, March 5. After arriving, the squad will attend the Atletico Madrid versus Sevilla match at the new Civitas Metropolitan Stadium.
The following day (March 6), the team will discover the capital of Spain on a guided walking tour – passing through the Royal Palace, Casa de Campo, the San Nicholas church, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and more.
Wake Forest will then travel to Valencia on March 7, making a stop in Toledo - an ancient city set on a hill above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain. That day, the Deacs will face Getafe CF, before arriving in Valencia later that evening.
On Wednesday, March 8, the Deacs will go on a walking tour of Valencia's medieval city center, while also making a stop at the City of the Arts and Sciences. Additionally, the Demon Deacons will learn how to cook Paella in a cooking demonstration taught by local chefs. That evening, Wake Forest will square off with Valencia CF in its second match of the voyage.
Next, the Deacs will depart to Barcelona on Thursday, March 9 where they will discover the city on a guided bike tour, before squaring off with CE Sant Gabriel in their final friendly match of the trip.
Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11, the team will visit Montserrat's mountaintop monastery, Sagrada Familia basilica and Park Guell before going on a stadium tour of Camp Nou, home of FC Barcelona.
The Demon Deacons will then head back to the United States on Sunday, March 12, arriving back in Winston-Salem later that evening.
Spring 2023 Schedule
The Demon Deacons will open the spring 2023 campaign with a home match against 2022 College Cup runner-up North Carolina on Feb. 25, before embarking on the voyage to Spain.
The Deacs will then return to Winston-Salem for consecutive home matches against SEC foe Tennessee and Big Four opponent Duke on March 25 and March 30, respectively. A week later, Wake Forest will make a short trip to Charlotte to face the 49ers on April 6.
The Demon Deacons will conclude spring action with a rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament clash with South Carolina on April 15 at Bryan Park in Greensboro.
Of note, four of the five opponents Wake Forest is slated to compete against this spring reached the NCAA Tournament last season.
2022 Season Highlights
Highlighted by friendly matches against Getafe CF, Valencia CF and CE Sant Gabriel, the team will go on a variety of excursions, including a visit to Montserrat's mountaintop monastery in Barcelona on Friday, March 10.
Like the Demon Deacons' trip to France in 2018, the program will also attend a professional soccer match while overseas.
The Trip (Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona)
The group will depart from the United States on Saturday, March 4, eventually landing in Madrid on Sunday, March 5. After arriving, the squad will attend the Atletico Madrid versus Sevilla match at the new Civitas Metropolitan Stadium.
The following day (March 6), the team will discover the capital of Spain on a guided walking tour – passing through the Royal Palace, Casa de Campo, the San Nicholas church, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and more.
Wake Forest will then travel to Valencia on March 7, making a stop in Toledo - an ancient city set on a hill above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain. That day, the Deacs will face Getafe CF, before arriving in Valencia later that evening.
On Wednesday, March 8, the Deacs will go on a walking tour of Valencia's medieval city center, while also making a stop at the City of the Arts and Sciences. Additionally, the Demon Deacons will learn how to cook Paella in a cooking demonstration taught by local chefs. That evening, Wake Forest will square off with Valencia CF in its second match of the voyage.
Next, the Deacs will depart to Barcelona on Thursday, March 9 where they will discover the city on a guided bike tour, before squaring off with CE Sant Gabriel in their final friendly match of the trip.
Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11, the team will visit Montserrat's mountaintop monastery, Sagrada Familia basilica and Park Guell before going on a stadium tour of Camp Nou, home of FC Barcelona.
The Demon Deacons will then head back to the United States on Sunday, March 12, arriving back in Winston-Salem later that evening.
Spring 2023 Schedule
The Demon Deacons will open the spring 2023 campaign with a home match against 2022 College Cup runner-up North Carolina on Feb. 25, before embarking on the voyage to Spain.
The Deacs will then return to Winston-Salem for consecutive home matches against SEC foe Tennessee and Big Four opponent Duke on March 25 and March 30, respectively. A week later, Wake Forest will make a short trip to Charlotte to face the 49ers on April 6.
The Demon Deacons will conclude spring action with a rematch of last season's NCAA Tournament clash with South Carolina on April 15 at Bryan Park in Greensboro.
Of note, four of the five opponents Wake Forest is slated to compete against this spring reached the NCAA Tournament last season.
2022 Season Highlights
- Caiya Hanks became the 17th player in Wake Forest history to earn ACC All-Freshman Team honors. Hanks finished the season with three assists and a goal, including the game-winning assist against Georgia.
- The Demon Deacons claimed a dominant 4-1 win over the No. 14 Clemson Tigers and earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw with No. 16 Auburn.
- Liv Stowell led the team in total points last season with 14.
- The junior forward collected five goals and four assists and was one of just three outfield players to start all 18 matches. (Meena, Hanks)
- Freshman Alex Wood finished tied for the team lead with five goals.
- The forward netted a brace against Rhode Island in just 36 minutes of game time.
- Center back Laurel Ansbrow led all field players with 1,579 minutes played on the backline.
- The sophomore started 16 of the 18 games and helped the Demon Deacons earn the nine shutouts.
- Kristin Johnson spent time as a left back and a center back throughout the season. The versatile defender finished tied for the team-high with four assists.
- The sophomore started 17 of the 18 matches and racked up over 1,400 minutes.
- Hannah Johnson scored the first goal of the season for the Demon Deacons just five minutes into the first match against Milwaukee. Coincidentally, the freshman also bagged the last goal of the season with the equalizer for the Demon Deacons with five minutes remaining against Boston College.
- Sophomore Emily Morris recorded four goals this past season.
- Morris started 17 games in the midfield and was a perfect blend of progression and protection for the Demon Deacons.
- As a team, the Demon Deacons only allowed multiple goals five times this past season and allowed three goals just once.
- In the fourth round of the 2023 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) draft, San Diego Wave FC selected three-time captain Giovanna DeMarco with the 45th overall pick.
- With DeMarco's selection, Wake Forest has had a player drafted in five-consecutive NWSL drafts. Additionally, DeMarco marked the seventh Demon Deacon drafted in the last four years and the ninth overall.
- DeMarco spent time as a number six, center back and even a center forward at times throughout her time at Wake Forest.
- With DeMarco's selection, Wake Forest has had a player drafted in five-consecutive NWSL drafts. Additionally, DeMarco marked the seventh Demon Deacon drafted in the last four years and the ninth overall.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Steve Forbes - Postgame Presser vs. Virginia Tech
Saturday, January 03
Head Coach Jake Dickert Duke's Mayo Bowl Postgame Press Conference (Jan. 2, 2026)
Saturday, January 03
Wake Forest Football 2025 Duke's Mayo Bowl Highlights vs Mississippi State (Jan. 2, 2026)
Saturday, January 03
QB Robby Ashford Duke's Mayo Bowl Postgame Press Conference (Jan. 2, 2026)
Saturday, January 03