Thursday, August 24
Winston-Salem, N.C.
1:00 P.M.
Wake Forest University
vs
Idaho State
Wake Forest Looking to Remain Undefeated Thursday Against Idaho State
8/23/2023 12:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Demon Deacons are unbeaten in their last 18 non-conference matches, boasting a 15-0-3 ledger.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – For the third-consecutive match, the Wake Forest women's soccer team will welcome a non-conference opponent to Spry Stadium, as the Deacs are primed for a mid-day showdown Thursday with Idaho State.
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET, and the match can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Need to Know - Game 3
Wake Forest (1-0-1) vs. Idaho State (0-2-0)
Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 - 1 p.m. - ACCNX
Winston-Salem, N.C. – Spry Stadium
Fan Information
Wake Forest Athletics is committed to providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina within a safe and fan-friendly environment.
Parking is encouraged in lots A, B, Q, W1 & W2. A complete parking map of campus is here. Gates open one hour prior to kickoff for all home matches.
Thursday, the first 300 fans will receive a free Wake Forest soccer t-shirt.
Accessibility Information
Wake Forest Athletics strives to provide content at games, social media and on GoDeacs.com that is accessible to all people. In the continued effort to improve accessibility of the technology and digital content at tomorrow's game, fans can access closed captions here (http://deacs.info/3qxcWDX) for the public address announcer and in-venue content.
Wake Forest Athletics is always open to learning about new ideas and ways we can improve. Please report accessibility challenges, identify content you find inaccessible, or give us general feedback at pantagw@wfu.edu.
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.
Deacs vs. Bengals
Wake Forest has controlled possession an average of 62.5 percent in its first two matches with 25.5 percent coming in the attacking quarter of the pitch. Of note, the Deacs' opponents have averaged only 20 percent possession in the final quarter.
Last Time Out (Against Army)
Despite several near scoring opportunities, Wake Forest battled to a 1-1 draw with Army Sunday evening at Spry Stadium.
The Demon Deacons faced a 1-0 deficit after conceding the opening goal in the 76th minute, before sophomore forward Caiya Hanks received a through ball from junior midfielder Nikayla Small down the left wing.
Hanks then cut inside and fired a shot to the bottom right corner of the goal, marking her second-career tally and her first since the Deacs' 7-0 victory over High Point on Sept. 1, 2022.
Of note, Small's assist on the goal was the seventh of her career.
As a team, the Deacs outshot the Black Knights 18-8 overall and 7-5 on goal, while also winning four corners to Army's three. Individually, Hanks and Small led the Demon Deacons with four shots apiece.
Defensively, freshman Demspey Brown and juniors Kristin Johnson and Laurel Ansbrow all played the full 90, anchoring the final third. Additionally, senior goalkeeper Maddy Howard notched four saves in goal for the Deacs, tying her career-high.
Idaho State Breakdown
For the second-consecutive game, the Demon Deacons will be matched up with an opponent they have never seen before in their 30-year history. Additionally, Thursday marks the first time the Deacs will be taking on a program from the state of Idaho.
Home Field Advantage
The Demon Deacons have tallied 17 wins at Spry Stadium over the past three seasons, which ranks fifth in the ACC. Of note, Wake Forest hasn't lost a home match against a non-conference foe since Sept. 5, 2019 when the Deacs dropped a thriller to No. 25 USF, 3-2.
Key Players to Watch
Highlighted by the addition of North Carolina transfer Emily Murphy, Wake Forest added six newcomers to the program entering the 2023 season.
'Murph' by the Numbers
With five freshman - goalkeeper Valentina Amaral (Florida Kraze/Krush – No. 19), forward Sierra Sythe (Beach FC – No. 75), midfielder Dempsey Brown (Orlando City), midfielder MJ Osborne (MVLA) and defender Sammi Wiemann (San Diego Surf) - the Demon Deacons' 2023 signing class ranks 29th nationally, according to TopDrawerSoccer.
Lockdown Defense
Led by returning defenders Laurel Ansbrow, Kristin Johnson and Zara Chavoshi, Wake Forest's defense led the ACC in goals allowed last season with 16.
Goals Allowed
Of note, the Demon Deacons tallied nine shutouts in 17 matches a season ago.
ACC Preseason Poll
Wake Forest was picked to finish eighth in this season's ACC Preseason Coaches Poll, as the seven teams picked to finish in front of the Deacs are all ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25.
Wake Forest will hit the road for the first time this season Sunday (Aug. 27) when the Deacs travel to face Big 10 opponent Purdue at 1 p.m.
Follow The Deacs
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Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET, and the match can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Need to Know - Game 3
Wake Forest (1-0-1) vs. Idaho State (0-2-0)
Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 - 1 p.m. - ACCNX
Winston-Salem, N.C. – Spry Stadium
Fan Information
Wake Forest Athletics is committed to providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina within a safe and fan-friendly environment.
Parking is encouraged in lots A, B, Q, W1 & W2. A complete parking map of campus is here. Gates open one hour prior to kickoff for all home matches.
Thursday, the first 300 fans will receive a free Wake Forest soccer t-shirt.
Accessibility Information
Wake Forest Athletics strives to provide content at games, social media and on GoDeacs.com that is accessible to all people. In the continued effort to improve accessibility of the technology and digital content at tomorrow's game, fans can access closed captions here (http://deacs.info/3qxcWDX) for the public address announcer and in-venue content.
Wake Forest Athletics is always open to learning about new ideas and ways we can improve. Please report accessibility challenges, identify content you find inaccessible, or give us general feedback at pantagw@wfu.edu.
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.
Deacs vs. Bengals
- Wake Forest (1-0-1) will be looking to extend its unbeaten stretch against non-conference opponents in the regular season to 19, as the Deacs have posted a 15-0-3 record in such contests over the last three seasons.
- Idaho State (0-2-0) is on a six-match losing streak against non-conference foes and has a -16 goal differential during that span, including a 5-0 defeat to open the 2023 season at UC Davis.
- Wake Forest finished 2022 ranked 50th in the RPI, while Idaho State sat at 311th.
Wake Forest has controlled possession an average of 62.5 percent in its first two matches with 25.5 percent coming in the attacking quarter of the pitch. Of note, the Deacs' opponents have averaged only 20 percent possession in the final quarter.
Last Time Out (Against Army)
Despite several near scoring opportunities, Wake Forest battled to a 1-1 draw with Army Sunday evening at Spry Stadium.
The Demon Deacons faced a 1-0 deficit after conceding the opening goal in the 76th minute, before sophomore forward Caiya Hanks received a through ball from junior midfielder Nikayla Small down the left wing.
Hanks then cut inside and fired a shot to the bottom right corner of the goal, marking her second-career tally and her first since the Deacs' 7-0 victory over High Point on Sept. 1, 2022.
Of note, Small's assist on the goal was the seventh of her career.
As a team, the Deacs outshot the Black Knights 18-8 overall and 7-5 on goal, while also winning four corners to Army's three. Individually, Hanks and Small led the Demon Deacons with four shots apiece.
Defensively, freshman Demspey Brown and juniors Kristin Johnson and Laurel Ansbrow all played the full 90, anchoring the final third. Additionally, senior goalkeeper Maddy Howard notched four saves in goal for the Deacs, tying her career-high.
Idaho State Breakdown
- Idaho State opened the season with a pair of road defeats at UC Davis and St. Mary's and was outscored 7-1 across the two matches.
- Freshman Isabella Winton notched her first career goal in the 2-1 defeat at St. Mary's on Sunday, while graduate transfer Brooklyn Kouns picked up her first assist in a Bengal uniform.
- Last season, the Bengals posted a 3-11-2 record (2-6-0 Big Sky), including a 2-7-1 record away from home.
- They bagged 10 goals across the 16 games and allowed 28.
- Junior duo Jordyn Roth and Kaylyn Buchanan, in addition to freshman Emerson Grafton, all led the team with four points last season.
- Buchanan and Grafton were the only two players in 2022 to record two goals.
- Freshman Lydia Keller and junior Chelsea Radicia have split the two games in goal for the Bengals to open this campaign, combining for nine saves with a 0.563 save percentage.
For the second-consecutive game, the Demon Deacons will be matched up with an opponent they have never seen before in their 30-year history. Additionally, Thursday marks the first time the Deacs will be taking on a program from the state of Idaho.
Home Field Advantage
The Demon Deacons have tallied 17 wins at Spry Stadium over the past three seasons, which ranks fifth in the ACC. Of note, Wake Forest hasn't lost a home match against a non-conference foe since Sept. 5, 2019 when the Deacs dropped a thriller to No. 25 USF, 3-2.
Key Players to Watch
- Laurel Ansbrow
- Played in all 19 matches, while starting in 17 a season ago.
- Led all outfield players in minutes with 1,579.
- Anchored the Demon Deacon backline to nine clean sheets.
- Liv Stowell
- Scored Wake Forest's first goal of the 2023 campaign in the opener against App State.
- Started in all 19 matches last season, while leading the team in points with 14.
- Tied for the team lead in goals (5) and assists (4) a season ago.
- Led all forwards with 1,393 minutes of action.
- Caiya Hanks
- Scored with just over four minutes remaining against Army to equalize.
- Earned ACC All-Freshman honors last season after starting in all 19 matches.
- Finished the season with three assists in 1,351 minutes of action
- Logged a team-high 41 shots.
- Scored her first career goal and assisted another in the 7-0 victory at High Point last year.
- Nikayla Small
- Tallied assists on both of Wake Forest's goals to start the 2023 season.
- Garnered All-ACC Freshman Team honors in 2021, before suffering a season-ending injury last season.
Highlighted by the addition of North Carolina transfer Emily Murphy, Wake Forest added six newcomers to the program entering the 2023 season.
'Murph' by the Numbers
| Season | GP-GS | Min. | G | A | Pts | Shot | Shot % | SOG | SOG% | GW |
| 2021 | 15-14 | 849:01 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 36 | .139 | 18 | .500 | 0 |
| 2022 | 24-3 | 623:15 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 16 | .313 | 11 | .688 | 1 |
| Total | 39-17 | 1472:15 | 10 | 10 | 30 | 52 | .192 | 29 | .558 | 1 |
With five freshman - goalkeeper Valentina Amaral (Florida Kraze/Krush – No. 19), forward Sierra Sythe (Beach FC – No. 75), midfielder Dempsey Brown (Orlando City), midfielder MJ Osborne (MVLA) and defender Sammi Wiemann (San Diego Surf) - the Demon Deacons' 2023 signing class ranks 29th nationally, according to TopDrawerSoccer.
Lockdown Defense
Led by returning defenders Laurel Ansbrow, Kristin Johnson and Zara Chavoshi, Wake Forest's defense led the ACC in goals allowed last season with 16.
Goals Allowed
| Rank | Team | Goals Allowed |
| 1. | Wake Forest | 16 |
| Notre Dame | 16 | |
| 3. | Virginia | 17 |
| 4. | Clemson | 19 |
| 5. | North Carolina | 20 |
| Florida State | 20 | |
| 7. | Pitt | 21 |
| 8. | Louisville | 22 |
| Miami | 22 | |
| 10. | Duke | 23 |
| 11. | Syracuse | 24 |
| 12. | Virginia Tech | 28 |
| 13. | Boston College | 30 |
| 14. | NC State | 31 |
Of note, the Demon Deacons tallied nine shutouts in 17 matches a season ago.
ACC Preseason Poll
Wake Forest was picked to finish eighth in this season's ACC Preseason Coaches Poll, as the seven teams picked to finish in front of the Deacs are all ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25.
- North Carolina (10) 166
- Florida State (2) 146
- Virginia (1) 139
- Notre Dame 134
- Duke (1) 126
- Clemson 104
- Pitt 103
- Wake Forest 87
- Virginia Tech 81
- NC State 62
- Louisville 47
- Syracuse 35
- Miami 24
- Boston College 20
Wake Forest will hit the road for the first time this season Sunday (Aug. 27) when the Deacs travel to face Big 10 opponent Purdue at 1 p.m.
Follow The Deacs
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Players Mentioned
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Forward
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Forward
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Forward
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Defender
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