2023 Women’s Soccer Season Outlook
8/17/2023 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
“I really like this team a lot. The culture has gotten to a self sustainable, internally driven point. We have a good number of seniors with some great talent in the lower classes to add in there.” - head coach Tony da Luz
The Wake Forest Women's Soccer program returned to the NCAA Tournament last season. This season they want the opportunity to host and make a deep run.
Since their competitive loss at SEC Champion South Carolina in the first round of the tournament last November, the Deacs have embarked on a successful tour of Spain, added several impact players, initiated a transformative partnership with Soccer Resilience and trained to an exceptional level of fitness.
Now it's time for them to navigate the challenging non-conference schedule concocted by head coach Tony da Luz which includes the likes of Purdue, Auburn, Iona, Appalachian State and Brown.
"If we're successful in the non-conference, we're going to be in a great situation," da Luz said. "We've got some really good tests. These are all NCAA teams. If we're able to get those wins, it will really help separate us in terms of the NCAA Tournament seeding and strength of schedule.
"Brown is a really good Ivy League team. We're going to expose them to a difficult schedule and I think our kids are prepared to handle it. I feel we're ready from an experience and maturity perspective to handle these challenges. We're looking at a very good team."
While the trip to Spain wrapped up in mid-March, the stories are still a part of everyday conversation between the players — and the chemistry built on the team should sustain them throughout the season.
"These trips are really an experience that the staff and players take for a lifetime," da Luz said. "It's just an incredible bonding experience and shared competition in a completely different environment. The stories just go on and on. Every time they're together, those stories from our trip come up. It's something you can't replicate from a team chemistry or experiential way. It's just the most special experience we can provide to our players."
The team reported for camp in early August, and da Luz was encouraged with his first meeting with the returning Demon Deacons.
"We had a really great spring and made a lot of progress," he said. "Summer school has been great for our team. A few seniors had internships, but nearly all the rest of the team has been here training, getting stronger and more fit.
"We had our fitness tests and the numbers were outstanding. This group is ready to go. I'm excited because we finally have a really good number of upperclassmen returning to the team. We'd been young the last couple of years, so there's been a lot of growing pains but we've been able to have some NCAA experience. I'm pumped about this team. I think we're going to be really strong."
In April, Wake Forest Women's Soccer announced the partnership with Soccer Resilience to "develop the tools necessary to build resilience, increase well being and optimize performance." Wake Forest men's soccer alum Wells Thompson is co-founder of the company, along with Dr. Brad Miller.
"They will help with team culture and mentality, and will work with our leadership group to give them tools to lead the team," da Luz said. "It's all about accountability now. Everybody is strongly committed to that. I just know our players are ready.
"The investment we've made with Soccer Resilience is already paying dividends. You can tell by the interactions between the players, and the way our older players are conducting themselves as leaders from day one. There's been incredible progress, and that will be a big piece for us. I believe we've got it."
Wake Forest returns 32 players from last year's team that advanced to NCAA Tournament play for the 22nd time in program history. Coming back are 11 of the top-12 goal scorers from last year, as well as 85.1 percent of goal production and 92 percent of assists. Coach da Luz can envision a big season ahead for returning players like Caiya Hanks, Nikayla Small and Malaika Meena.
"Last year Hanks only scored one goal, but she was a constant danger to other teams," he explained. "She just has to learn how to finish her chances and be more clinical about putting the ball away. She showed signs of that this spring and made a lot of progress while putting in a lot of extra time. She's so dangerous and so fast, while also a great dribbler. Now I think with a year of experience under her belt, she's ready to explode. I expect her to have a really good season.
"I think Nikayla Small had a slow start in the spring, coming off a broken foot in international competition, and just wasn't herself. She was still good, but now she's had a full year to completely recover with her strength and fitness, while playing a good amount in the summer. I think she'll be back, new and improved, and make an incredible impact in our midfield. And Malaika Meena, who we didn't have in the NCAA game last year because of an injury, should be completely cleared to play in a couple weeks. She looks great and will really help our midfield."
Junior defender Laurel Ansbrow is becoming a vocal leader for the Demon Deacons, according to da Luz.
"I think Laurel Ansbrow has just become the ultimate warrior, leader and role model," he said. "She's the absolute anchor for our team in every way — performance, personality and leadership wise. I think she's ready at center back to lead our team and help us leap forward."
At least a trio of true freshmen have the opportunity to contribute early, according to da Luz.
"Sierra Sythe has a ton of potential," he said. "She's absolutely destroyed the fitness test and is killing the weight room. She's a really creative, clever player. She's so unpredictable for her opponents. I think she has a really good chance to be an All-ACC Freshman type player. Dempsey Brown is another player in the midfield who has really made a great impact through July, from what her teammates say. She's one to watch, for sure.
Then Valentina Amaral is with the U20 national team. We lost Kaitlyn (KP) Parks, who is an All-American. Madison Howard is a senior, who was her backup, and is looking to prove herself and win the position. It's going to be a tough competition, because Valentina is incredibly talented. She's fantastic with her feet and natural in that position. We feel we're in a great position at goalkeeper, because those two are going to be battling it out."
Junior Emily Murphy, from Windsor, England, joins the Demon Deacons after scoring five goals last season for UNC.
"She had a solid spring for us," da Luz said. "She's an attacking player, who will play the center-forward position. She's a great, vocal and energetic leader. She's contagious in a positive way. She's really going to help us a lot. She has a knack of being involved in goals, either scoring, setting them up or being just a couple passes away. I'm looking forward to her making the full transition here and getting going."
Last season, the Demon Deacon defense largely kept opponents in check, leading the ACC with just 16 goals allowed in conference play. The key for 2023 will be putting more goals on the board themselves.
"We need to score goals against high-quality teams," da Luz said. "We need to generate goals. We've outplayed a lot of teams, but it can be a cruel game. If you dominate the ball, but don't score goals, you still lose the game. There were some really tight games last year that shouldn't have been. That's going to be the critical piece of it.
"Can our team and some of our individual players be special enough to score big goals against some of the top teams in our league and some of the great non-conference teams on the schedule? I think defensively we're going to be sound. Our ability to possess the ball and dominate the ball is there and is very consistent, but our attacking players have to show some special qualities to win games. That will be the key difference between us being a good team and a great team."
The team enjoyed the trip to Spain and worked hard in the offseason. Coach da Luz put together a challenging schedule for them to navigate. Now it's just time to see if all the hard work has paid off.
"We started practice with our fitness test, so I know they've put in the work," da Luz said. "The results were very good and encouraging. The spirit within the team is fantastic. I know the minutes these players have had in their first two-or-three years in the program will translate to some really big wins for us. I think they realize now that the culture has to drive it, and we're putting a lot of effort into that.
"I really like the team a lot. The culture has gotten to a self sustainable, internally driven point. We have a good number of seniors with some great talent in the lower classes to add in there."
After making the NCAA Tournament a year ago, the goal for this year is clear — host some games at Spry Stadium and make a run.
"The NCAA Tournament last year, we drew South Carolina in Columbia, having to face the SEC Champions," da Luz said. "We lost the game, but our performance was very good, and I think that experience will really help us this year. It teaches the team that there are a few games during the season we have to turn around in order to host in the NCAA Tournament.
"It's just a super-fine line, and that's something we've learned. We have to perform and win some big games in the regular season, in the non-conference particularly, so we have that opportunity to host in the NCAA Tournament."
Since their competitive loss at SEC Champion South Carolina in the first round of the tournament last November, the Deacs have embarked on a successful tour of Spain, added several impact players, initiated a transformative partnership with Soccer Resilience and trained to an exceptional level of fitness.
Now it's time for them to navigate the challenging non-conference schedule concocted by head coach Tony da Luz which includes the likes of Purdue, Auburn, Iona, Appalachian State and Brown.
"If we're successful in the non-conference, we're going to be in a great situation," da Luz said. "We've got some really good tests. These are all NCAA teams. If we're able to get those wins, it will really help separate us in terms of the NCAA Tournament seeding and strength of schedule.
"Brown is a really good Ivy League team. We're going to expose them to a difficult schedule and I think our kids are prepared to handle it. I feel we're ready from an experience and maturity perspective to handle these challenges. We're looking at a very good team."
While the trip to Spain wrapped up in mid-March, the stories are still a part of everyday conversation between the players — and the chemistry built on the team should sustain them throughout the season.
"These trips are really an experience that the staff and players take for a lifetime," da Luz said. "It's just an incredible bonding experience and shared competition in a completely different environment. The stories just go on and on. Every time they're together, those stories from our trip come up. It's something you can't replicate from a team chemistry or experiential way. It's just the most special experience we can provide to our players."
The team reported for camp in early August, and da Luz was encouraged with his first meeting with the returning Demon Deacons.
"We had a really great spring and made a lot of progress," he said. "Summer school has been great for our team. A few seniors had internships, but nearly all the rest of the team has been here training, getting stronger and more fit.
"We had our fitness tests and the numbers were outstanding. This group is ready to go. I'm excited because we finally have a really good number of upperclassmen returning to the team. We'd been young the last couple of years, so there's been a lot of growing pains but we've been able to have some NCAA experience. I'm pumped about this team. I think we're going to be really strong."
In April, Wake Forest Women's Soccer announced the partnership with Soccer Resilience to "develop the tools necessary to build resilience, increase well being and optimize performance." Wake Forest men's soccer alum Wells Thompson is co-founder of the company, along with Dr. Brad Miller.
"They will help with team culture and mentality, and will work with our leadership group to give them tools to lead the team," da Luz said. "It's all about accountability now. Everybody is strongly committed to that. I just know our players are ready.
"The investment we've made with Soccer Resilience is already paying dividends. You can tell by the interactions between the players, and the way our older players are conducting themselves as leaders from day one. There's been incredible progress, and that will be a big piece for us. I believe we've got it."
Wake Forest returns 32 players from last year's team that advanced to NCAA Tournament play for the 22nd time in program history. Coming back are 11 of the top-12 goal scorers from last year, as well as 85.1 percent of goal production and 92 percent of assists. Coach da Luz can envision a big season ahead for returning players like Caiya Hanks, Nikayla Small and Malaika Meena.
"Last year Hanks only scored one goal, but she was a constant danger to other teams," he explained. "She just has to learn how to finish her chances and be more clinical about putting the ball away. She showed signs of that this spring and made a lot of progress while putting in a lot of extra time. She's so dangerous and so fast, while also a great dribbler. Now I think with a year of experience under her belt, she's ready to explode. I expect her to have a really good season.
"I think Nikayla Small had a slow start in the spring, coming off a broken foot in international competition, and just wasn't herself. She was still good, but now she's had a full year to completely recover with her strength and fitness, while playing a good amount in the summer. I think she'll be back, new and improved, and make an incredible impact in our midfield. And Malaika Meena, who we didn't have in the NCAA game last year because of an injury, should be completely cleared to play in a couple weeks. She looks great and will really help our midfield."
Junior defender Laurel Ansbrow is becoming a vocal leader for the Demon Deacons, according to da Luz.
"I think Laurel Ansbrow has just become the ultimate warrior, leader and role model," he said. "She's the absolute anchor for our team in every way — performance, personality and leadership wise. I think she's ready at center back to lead our team and help us leap forward."
At least a trio of true freshmen have the opportunity to contribute early, according to da Luz.
"Sierra Sythe has a ton of potential," he said. "She's absolutely destroyed the fitness test and is killing the weight room. She's a really creative, clever player. She's so unpredictable for her opponents. I think she has a really good chance to be an All-ACC Freshman type player. Dempsey Brown is another player in the midfield who has really made a great impact through July, from what her teammates say. She's one to watch, for sure.
Then Valentina Amaral is with the U20 national team. We lost Kaitlyn (KP) Parks, who is an All-American. Madison Howard is a senior, who was her backup, and is looking to prove herself and win the position. It's going to be a tough competition, because Valentina is incredibly talented. She's fantastic with her feet and natural in that position. We feel we're in a great position at goalkeeper, because those two are going to be battling it out."
Junior Emily Murphy, from Windsor, England, joins the Demon Deacons after scoring five goals last season for UNC.
"She had a solid spring for us," da Luz said. "She's an attacking player, who will play the center-forward position. She's a great, vocal and energetic leader. She's contagious in a positive way. She's really going to help us a lot. She has a knack of being involved in goals, either scoring, setting them up or being just a couple passes away. I'm looking forward to her making the full transition here and getting going."
Last season, the Demon Deacon defense largely kept opponents in check, leading the ACC with just 16 goals allowed in conference play. The key for 2023 will be putting more goals on the board themselves.
"We need to score goals against high-quality teams," da Luz said. "We need to generate goals. We've outplayed a lot of teams, but it can be a cruel game. If you dominate the ball, but don't score goals, you still lose the game. There were some really tight games last year that shouldn't have been. That's going to be the critical piece of it.
"Can our team and some of our individual players be special enough to score big goals against some of the top teams in our league and some of the great non-conference teams on the schedule? I think defensively we're going to be sound. Our ability to possess the ball and dominate the ball is there and is very consistent, but our attacking players have to show some special qualities to win games. That will be the key difference between us being a good team and a great team."
The team enjoyed the trip to Spain and worked hard in the offseason. Coach da Luz put together a challenging schedule for them to navigate. Now it's just time to see if all the hard work has paid off.
"We started practice with our fitness test, so I know they've put in the work," da Luz said. "The results were very good and encouraging. The spirit within the team is fantastic. I know the minutes these players have had in their first two-or-three years in the program will translate to some really big wins for us. I think they realize now that the culture has to drive it, and we're putting a lot of effort into that.
"I really like the team a lot. The culture has gotten to a self sustainable, internally driven point. We have a good number of seniors with some great talent in the lower classes to add in there."
After making the NCAA Tournament a year ago, the goal for this year is clear — host some games at Spry Stadium and make a run.
"The NCAA Tournament last year, we drew South Carolina in Columbia, having to face the SEC Champions," da Luz said. "We lost the game, but our performance was very good, and I think that experience will really help us this year. It teaches the team that there are a few games during the season we have to turn around in order to host in the NCAA Tournament.
"It's just a super-fine line, and that's something we've learned. We have to perform and win some big games in the regular season, in the non-conference particularly, so we have that opportunity to host in the NCAA Tournament."
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
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