Stellar Defense, Timely Offense Leads Demon Deacons Past App State Inside Kentner Stadium

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Behind a trio of goal scorers and a stingy defense that included five saves by Wake Forest's goalkeepers, the No. 17-ranked Demon Deacons field hockey team powered past App State on Sunday inside Kentner Stadium, 3-0.

The Deacs (3-2) were led offensively by senior Anna Gwiazdzinski who scored and registered a team-high five shots during the match. The tally marked her second on the season and it cemented the Wake Forest victory as it came in the final minutes of the contest.

Wake Forest scored its first two goals within 42 seconds of one another at the beginning of the second period. Freshman Faye Janse opened the second at the 18:17 mark with her second-career score and sophomore Rachel Thetford registered her second goal of the 2023 season moments later at 18:59. Those scores were assisted by freshman Florence Tuthill and sophomore Amelia Frey, respectively.

In goal, sophomore Ellie Todd kept the Mountaineers scoreless in the first half and graduate Jodie Brine made five saves in the second half as the Deacs goalkeeper.
Sunday's match marked the Demon Deacons third shutout of the 2023 season.

How It Happened

App State opened the game with a penalty corner and a shot by Charlotte Bosma that went wide right in the first minute of the match.
Wake Forest changed the momentum of the match by registering four shots in the next seven minutes.
The Deacs and Mountaineers traded possessions for the remainder of the opening stanza, which ended scoreless.
The Demon Deacons opened the second period with a wide shot by Faye Janse. She followed it up quickly with another shot that resulted in Wake Forest's first score of the match. Janse was assisted by Florence Tuthill.
The Deacs scored again less than a minute later, this time off a shot by Rachel Thetford, assisted by Amelia Frey.
The Deacs ended the half with another two shots, one wide by Immie Gilgrass and another by Rory Heslin that was saved by the Mountaineers goalkeeper.
App State started off the third period with two penalty corner opportunities resulting in one blocked shot.
The Mountaineers' offensive pressure continued with a shot off a fast break, but it was saved by the Deacs' goalkeeper Jodie Brine. App State also could not score on a subsequent penalty corner.
Wake Forest followed up with a strong offensive possession resulting in three shots by Anna Gwiazdzinski, but she was unable to convert. Gwiazdzinski got another opportunity less than two minutes later, but her effort was blocked.
The Deacs finished off the third period with an unsuccessful penalty corner and another save by goalkeeper Jodie Brine off an App State shot.
The fourth period started much like the first, with a penalty corner for App State, resulting in a shot that was blocked by Demon Deacons' defense.
Wake Forest registered a shot four minutes into the fourth quarter via Nat Friedman, but was blocked. The Deacs followed up quickly with a pair of penalty corners, resulting in one shot by Brooke McCusker that was saved by the Mountaineers goalkeeper.
App State answered with two penalty corners of their own midway through the final period, ending in three more saves for the Deacs' Jodie Brine.
Wake Forest ended the game with a goal in the final two minutes by Anna Gwiazdzinski, securing the win for the Deacs.

Quotables
Head Coach Jennifer Averill - "App State came into today's match with great energy. I really respect their ability to create scoring opportunities and I was happy with how we attacked their defense. It was disappointing that we gave up so many defensive corners, but on the flip side I was equally impressed with some of the goal scoring we were able to execute. I thought the second goal was excellent. When you see your players execute what we practiced all week in a high pressure situation is really cool. I'm proud of a lot of people, including Jodie who made many key saves. It was just a good all around team performance."

Up Next
The Deacs continue non-conference play a week from today at Kentner Stadium when Wake Forest hosts Bryant at noon. The Sunday, Sept. 17 match can be streamed on ACC Network Extra and admission is free for all fans.

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Stellar Defense, Timely Offense Leads Demon Deacons Past App State Inside Kentner Stadium

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Team Stats

Anna Gwiazdzinski

Faye Janse

Rachel Thetford

Amelia Frey

Players Mentioned

Jodie Brine

Amelia Frey

Nat Friedman

Anna Gwiazdzinski

Rory Heslin

Faye Janse

Brooke McCusker

Rachel Thetford

Ellie Todd

Florence Tuthill

Wake Forest Athletics