
Balanced Attack Lifts Wake Forest Past Idaho State, 3-0
8/24/2023 4:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Demon Deacons improved to 16-0-3 against regular-season, non-conference foes over the past three seasons.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Behind a dynamic offensive attack and a stout defensive effort, the Wake Forest women's soccer team defeated Idaho State, 3-0, Thursday at Spry Stadium.
The Demon Deacons (2-0-1) used a perfect blend of progression and possession (67 percent) en route to their 18th win at Spry Stadium over the past three seasons.
Wake Forest struck first Thursday as junior forward Emily Murphy received the ball with her back to goal and turned to find junior defender Tyla Ochoa in the box. Ochoa then played a low ball across goal, where sophomore forward Caiya Hanks slotted it home to give the Deacs a 1-0 advantage.
Less than three minutes later, the Demon Deacons extended their lead when junior midfielder Nikayla Small cut off a pass that was picked up by fellow junior midfielder Anna Swanson. Swanson then played a perfect ball to Stowell for a strong right-footed finish to the keeper's left.
The Deacs' final goal of the match came in the 60th minute when Hanks picked it off an Idaho State defender, before finding Murphy on the edge of the box. Murphy took a few touches and fired it into the bottom left corner, giving the Deacs a 3-0 lead.
As a team, Wake Forest had its best offensive showing of the 2023 campaign, attempting a season-high 34 shots, with 10 coming on target. Of note, a season-high 18 Demon Deacons attempted a shot Thursday.
Defensively, the Deacs held Idaho State to zero shot attempts, marking the first time the Bengals had been held shotless since Sept. 6, 2021.
How It Happened
Demon Deacon Details of Note
Standout Stat
Tony Time with Coach da Luz
"We attacked well today. There was variation in creating lots of good chances. We just need to refine our finishing. We are showing progress each game and gradually returning more players from injury. Emily Morris gave us some quality minutes today in her first game back. We are headed in a very positive direction." - head coach Tony da Luz
Up Next
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
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
The Demon Deacons (2-0-1) used a perfect blend of progression and possession (67 percent) en route to their 18th win at Spry Stadium over the past three seasons.
Wake Forest struck first Thursday as junior forward Emily Murphy received the ball with her back to goal and turned to find junior defender Tyla Ochoa in the box. Ochoa then played a low ball across goal, where sophomore forward Caiya Hanks slotted it home to give the Deacs a 1-0 advantage.
Less than three minutes later, the Demon Deacons extended their lead when junior midfielder Nikayla Small cut off a pass that was picked up by fellow junior midfielder Anna Swanson. Swanson then played a perfect ball to Stowell for a strong right-footed finish to the keeper's left.
The Deacs' final goal of the match came in the 60th minute when Hanks picked it off an Idaho State defender, before finding Murphy on the edge of the box. Murphy took a few touches and fired it into the bottom left corner, giving the Deacs a 3-0 lead.
As a team, Wake Forest had its best offensive showing of the 2023 campaign, attempting a season-high 34 shots, with 10 coming on target. Of note, a season-high 18 Demon Deacons attempted a shot Thursday.
Defensively, the Deacs held Idaho State to zero shot attempts, marking the first time the Bengals had been held shotless since Sept. 6, 2021.
How It Happened
- Wake Forest came out aggressive, pressuring Idaho State's back line over the first 10 minutes of action.
- Abbie Colton fired the Deacs' first shot attempt of the match, but her attempt was blocked by an Idaho State defender.
- Just over two minutes later, Caiya Hanks received a cross from Tyla Ochoa and found the back of the net for her second goal of the season.
- Murphy received the ball with her back to goal just outside the 18 and turned to find Ochoa in the box, who then played a low ball across goal, where Hanks slotted it home.
- The Demon Deacons remained on the attack for the following three minutes, before Liv Stowell notched the Deacs' second goal of the contest in the 18th minute.
- Small cut off a pass in the midfield, before Anna Swanson picked it up and played a good ball to Stowell for the strong right-footed finish to the keeper's left.
- Wake Forest outshot Idaho State 12-0 in the first half.
- Additionally, the Demon Deacons tallied five corners compared to none for the Bengals.
- The Deacs also controlled 67 percent of possession over the first 45 minutes.
- Additionally, the Demon Deacons tallied five corners compared to none for the Bengals.
- The Demon Deacons picked up where they left off in the first half, as Small fired a shot 90 seconds into the second 45.
- Murphy tallied her first-career goal as she extended the Deacs' lead to three in the 60th minute.
- Hanks picked up the assist after she won the ball off an Idaho State defender and found Murphy on the edge of the box.
- The transfer striker challenged the keeper once again with a header from just inside the 18 in the 65th minute.
- Hanks picked up the assist after she won the ball off an Idaho State defender and found Murphy on the edge of the box.
- In the 68th minute, Wake Forest threatened goal three times in the span of 15 seconds as Hanks had a pair of shots blocked, before Colton fired an off-target shot from outside the box.
- Hannah Johnson intercepted a pass from the goalkeeper and won a corner for the Deacs in the 70th minute after a powerful shot was parried aside.
- Ansbrow put the ball in the back of the net after the corner, but the goal was called back due to a handball.
- The Deacs continued to fight for the fourth goal, as the team fired 13 shots over the final 17 minutes of action.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
- Sophomore Caiya Hanks scored her second goal of the season and third tally of her career, in addition to her fourth-career assist.
- She has now equaled her points tally from last season in just three games (5).
- Junior Emily Murphy collected her first goal and assist in a Wake Forest uniform.
- The pair of goal contributions today bring her career points tally to 33 (11 goals and 11 assists).
- Senior Liv Stowell joined the 20-career point club with her second goal of the season.
- Junior Anna Swanson picked up her first-career assist on the goal.
- Ochoa's assist on Hanks' goal was the second of her career.
- Freshman Valentina Amaral and sophomore Baylor Goldthwaite both made their collegiate debuts.
- Amaral started and played the full 90 in goal for the Demon Deacons en route to the team's second clean sheet of the season.
- Goldthwaite logged 19 minutes of action off the bench and tallied three shots.
- Junior Emily Morris made her season debut as she came on in the 59th minute.
Standout Stat
- The Deacs held the Bengals shotless throughout the entire contest.
- It marks the first time Wake Forest accomplished this feat since the ACC clash with Miami last season on Oct. 9, 2022.
- Additionally, the Demon Deacons' defensive performance marked the first time Idaho State had been held shotless since Sept. 6, 2021.
- It marks the first time Wake Forest accomplished this feat since the ACC clash with Miami last season on Oct. 9, 2022.
- Like they've done all season, the Demon Deacons controlled possession (67 percent) Thursday.
- Coming into Thursday's showdown, the Deacs controlled possession an average of 62.5 percent in their first two matches with 25.5 percent coming in the attacking quarter of the pitch.
Tony Time with Coach da Luz
"We attacked well today. There was variation in creating lots of good chances. We just need to refine our finishing. We are showing progress each game and gradually returning more players from injury. Emily Morris gave us some quality minutes today in her first game back. We are headed in a very positive direction." - head coach Tony da Luz
Up Next
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
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Team Stats
ISU
WFU
Goals
0
3
Shots
0
34
Shots on Goal
0
10
Saves
7
0
Corners
1
8
Fouls
3
10
Scoring Plays

Caiya Hanks (2)
Assisted By: Tyla Ochoa , Emily Murphy
GOAL by WFU Hanks, Caiya Assist by Ochoa, Tyla and Murphy, Emily.
14:26

Olivia Stowell (2)
Assisted By: Anna Swanson
GOAL by WFU Stowell, Olivia Assist by Swanson, Anna.
17:37

Emily Murphy (1)
Assisted By: Caiya Hanks
GOAL by WFU Murphy, Emily Assist by Hanks, Caiya.
59:06
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