Wake Forest, Coach da Luz Releases 2023 Schedule
4/17/2023 1:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Demon Deacons will open the 2023 campaign on Aug. 17, hosting in-state opponent App State at 7 p.m.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C - Seeking the 23rd NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, head coach Tony da Luz and the Wake Forest women's soccer team officially unveiled the Demon Deacons' 2023 schedule Monday evening, which features nine home matches and nine away matches.
"The 2023 schedule has us competing against opponents from many different conferences," said da Luz. "It is designed to challenge our team and prepare us for post season play. Our Alumni Reunion Weekend (Aug. 18-20) will be a fun event culminating with a game against Army on Sunday, coached by our Wake Forest Alum, Tracy Chao. I'm excited about our returning team and hope our fans will get behind us."
2023 Slate
Wake Forest will open the 2023 campaign with three-consecutive home contests against App State (Aug. 17), Army (Aug. 20) and Idaho State (Aug. 24), before hitting the road for its first away test against Purdue on Aug. 27.
Four days later, the Demon Deacons will close out the month of August, traveling to the state of Alabama for a showdown with SEC opponent Auburn on Aug. 31.
The Deacs will then return home to square off with Iona on Sept. 3, before hitting the Ocean State for consecutive matches against Rhode Island (Sept. 7) and Brown (Sept. 10) to close non-conference play.
After a five day hiatus, Wake Forest will open ACC play, traveling to face Notre Dame on Sept. 15. The Demon Deacons will then host Big Four opponent NC State (Sept. 21) and Virginia (Sept. 24).
Shortly after, Wake Forest will play three-consecutive road matches against Virginia Tech (Sept. 29), Syracuse (Oct. 5) and Pitt (Oct. 8).
Of note, five of the Deacs' first six ACC opponents (Notre Dame, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Pitt) each made the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
Coming down the final stretch of the regular season, the Demon Deacons will host Big Four foe and 2022 College Cup runner-up North Carolina on Oct. 13, before hosting Boston College (Oct. 19) and Louisville (Oct. 22). Wake Forest will travel to face Miami on Oct. 26 in the regular-season finale.
The 2023 ACC Tournament will take place Oct. 29-Nov. 3, while the 2023 NCAA Tournament will be held Nov. 10-Dec. 4.
The Schedule
2023 Season Ticket Information
2023 Wake Forest soccer season tickets are on-sale now giving fans the opportunity to witness The Best Fan Experience In North Carolina from a number of unique seating options. Season tickets start as low as $55 for general admission and $40 for youth, while reserved chair backs are $90 for fans and $73 for Wake Forest University faculty and staff.
To order, visit godeacs.com/tickets or call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336.758.3322.
Promotions for individual matches will be announced at a later date.
2023 Season Outlook
Wake Forest will look to build upon a solid 2022 campaign in which it reached the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd time in program history. The Demon Deacons will play nine home matches and nine away matches during the 2023 slate for a total of 18 contests.
The Deacs return most of the stout defense from last season that tallied nine shutouts, while accumulating a .778 goals-against-average. Of note, Wake Forest ranked within the top-50 nationally in both categories (shutouts and GAA).
Additionally, defensively, the Deacs ranked first in the ACC in total goals allowed (16).
Returning Production
Wake Forest returns 32 players from a season ago, including 14 who made 10 or more appearances and six who made 10 or more starts. Additionally, the Demon Deacons return five players (Liv Stowell, Caiya Hanks, Kristin Johnson, Laurel Ansbrow and Carly Wilson) who competed in all 19 matches last season.
Offensively, the Deacs return 85.1 percent (24-of-27) of their goal production from a season ago and 11 of their top 12 goal scorers. Additionally, returning players accounted for 92 percent of the Demon Deacons' assists from last season.
Despite the loss of last season's starting goalkeeper, defensively, Wake Forest returns its entire starting backline from a year ago. Overall, the Deacs return 10-of-11 starters from last year's NCAA Tournament match against South Carolina.
Additionally, returning to the pitch in 2023 is 2021 All-ACC Freshman Team selection Nikayla Small. In her last season competing for the Demon Deacons, Small played in 20 games, making 19 starts for the 2021 team that went on to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Active Spring - Deacs En España
This spring, Wake Forest embarked on an international trip to Spain, competing against three quality opponents during the nine-day adventure.
International Friendly Match 1 - Getaf CF
International Friendly Match 2 - Mislata CF
International Friendly Match 3 - CE Sant Gabriel
New Faces
Highlighted by the addition of North Carolina transfer Emily Murphy, Wake Forest will add six newcomers to the program entering the 2023 season.
With commitments from five incoming freshman - goalkeeper Valentina Amaral (Florida Kraze/Krush – No. 22), forward Sierra Sythe (Beach FC – No. 75), midfielder Sarah Brown (Orlando City), midfielder Mary Jane Osborne (MVLA) and defender Samantha Wiemann (San Diego Surf) - the Demon Deacons' 2023 signing class currently ranks 26th nationally, according to TopDrawerSoccer.
Demon Deacons in the NCAA Tournament
2022 Season Highlights
"The 2023 schedule has us competing against opponents from many different conferences," said da Luz. "It is designed to challenge our team and prepare us for post season play. Our Alumni Reunion Weekend (Aug. 18-20) will be a fun event culminating with a game against Army on Sunday, coached by our Wake Forest Alum, Tracy Chao. I'm excited about our returning team and hope our fans will get behind us."
2023 Slate
Wake Forest will open the 2023 campaign with three-consecutive home contests against App State (Aug. 17), Army (Aug. 20) and Idaho State (Aug. 24), before hitting the road for its first away test against Purdue on Aug. 27.
Four days later, the Demon Deacons will close out the month of August, traveling to the state of Alabama for a showdown with SEC opponent Auburn on Aug. 31.
The Deacs will then return home to square off with Iona on Sept. 3, before hitting the Ocean State for consecutive matches against Rhode Island (Sept. 7) and Brown (Sept. 10) to close non-conference play.
After a five day hiatus, Wake Forest will open ACC play, traveling to face Notre Dame on Sept. 15. The Demon Deacons will then host Big Four opponent NC State (Sept. 21) and Virginia (Sept. 24).
Shortly after, Wake Forest will play three-consecutive road matches against Virginia Tech (Sept. 29), Syracuse (Oct. 5) and Pitt (Oct. 8).
Of note, five of the Deacs' first six ACC opponents (Notre Dame, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Pitt) each made the NCAA Tournament a season ago.
Coming down the final stretch of the regular season, the Demon Deacons will host Big Four foe and 2022 College Cup runner-up North Carolina on Oct. 13, before hosting Boston College (Oct. 19) and Louisville (Oct. 22). Wake Forest will travel to face Miami on Oct. 26 in the regular-season finale.
The 2023 ACC Tournament will take place Oct. 29-Nov. 3, while the 2023 NCAA Tournament will be held Nov. 10-Dec. 4.
The Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| August 17 | App State | Spry Stadium | 7 pm |
| August 20 | Army | Spry Stadium | 1 pm |
| August 24 | Idaho State | Spry Stadium | 1 pm |
| August 27 | Purdue | Away | 1 pm |
| August 31 | Auburn | Away | 6:30 pm |
| September 3 | Iona | Spry Stadium | 1 pm |
| September 7 | Rhode Island | Away | 7 pm |
| September 10 | Brown | Away | 1 pm |
| September 15 | Notre Dame | Away | 7 pm |
| September 21 | NC State | Spry Stadium | 8 pm |
| September 24 | Virginia | Spry Stadium | 5 pm |
| September 29 | Virginia Tech | Away | 7 pm |
| October 5 | Syracuse | Away | 7 pm |
| October 8 | Pitt | Away | 1 pm |
| October 13 | North Carolina | Spry Stadium | 7 pm |
| October 19 | Boston College | Spry Stadium | 7 pm |
| October 22 | Louisville | Spry Stadium | 1 pm |
| October 26 | Miami | Away | 7 pm |
2023 Season Ticket Information
2023 Wake Forest soccer season tickets are on-sale now giving fans the opportunity to witness The Best Fan Experience In North Carolina from a number of unique seating options. Season tickets start as low as $55 for general admission and $40 for youth, while reserved chair backs are $90 for fans and $73 for Wake Forest University faculty and staff.
To order, visit godeacs.com/tickets or call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336.758.3322.
Promotions for individual matches will be announced at a later date.
2023 Season Outlook
Wake Forest will look to build upon a solid 2022 campaign in which it reached the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd time in program history. The Demon Deacons will play nine home matches and nine away matches during the 2023 slate for a total of 18 contests.
The Deacs return most of the stout defense from last season that tallied nine shutouts, while accumulating a .778 goals-against-average. Of note, Wake Forest ranked within the top-50 nationally in both categories (shutouts and GAA).
Additionally, defensively, the Deacs ranked first in the ACC in total goals allowed (16).
Returning Production
Wake Forest returns 32 players from a season ago, including 14 who made 10 or more appearances and six who made 10 or more starts. Additionally, the Demon Deacons return five players (Liv Stowell, Caiya Hanks, Kristin Johnson, Laurel Ansbrow and Carly Wilson) who competed in all 19 matches last season.
Offensively, the Deacs return 85.1 percent (24-of-27) of their goal production from a season ago and 11 of their top 12 goal scorers. Additionally, returning players accounted for 92 percent of the Demon Deacons' assists from last season.
Despite the loss of last season's starting goalkeeper, defensively, Wake Forest returns its entire starting backline from a year ago. Overall, the Deacs return 10-of-11 starters from last year's NCAA Tournament match against South Carolina.
Additionally, returning to the pitch in 2023 is 2021 All-ACC Freshman Team selection Nikayla Small. In her last season competing for the Demon Deacons, Small played in 20 games, making 19 starts for the 2021 team that went on to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Active Spring - Deacs En España
This spring, Wake Forest embarked on an international trip to Spain, competing against three quality opponents during the nine-day adventure.
International Friendly Match 1 - Getaf CF
International Friendly Match 2 - Mislata CF
International Friendly Match 3 - CE Sant Gabriel
New Faces
Highlighted by the addition of North Carolina transfer Emily Murphy, Wake Forest will add six newcomers to the program entering the 2023 season.
With commitments from five incoming freshman - goalkeeper Valentina Amaral (Florida Kraze/Krush – No. 22), forward Sierra Sythe (Beach FC – No. 75), midfielder Sarah Brown (Orlando City), midfielder Mary Jane Osborne (MVLA) and defender Samantha Wiemann (San Diego Surf) - the Demon Deacons' 2023 signing class currently ranks 26th nationally, according to TopDrawerSoccer.
Demon Deacons in the NCAA Tournament
- NCAA College Cup Appearances (1)
- 2011
- NCAA Tournament Appearances (22)
- 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022
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 #6, center back and even a center forward during 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
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