Wake Forest Athletics
Sunday, September 3
Winston-Salem, N.C.
1:00 P.M.
Wake Forest University
vs
Iona
Wake Forest Returns Home to Host Iona Sunday
9/2/2023 3:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Boasting a three-match winning streak, the Demon Deacons will face the Gaels for the first time in program history.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Following consecutive victories over Big Ten and SEC opponents, the Wake Forest women's soccer team will return to Spry Stadium for a showdown with the Iona Gaels Sunday.
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET, and the match can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Need to Know - Game 6
Wake Forest (4-0-1) vs. Iona (1-4-0)
Sunday, Sept. 3, 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.
Sunday will serve as the Deacs' Mental Health Awareness match, as well as Friendship Day. At the game, fans will have the opportunity to raise awareness for mental health by writing messages on posters and balloons that will be placed on the hill railings at Spry Stadium.
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. Gaels
Hot Start
Through five games, Wake Forest is one of only four teams in the ACC with four or more wins to start the 2023 season. Additionally, the Demon Deacons' current three-match winning streak is the third longest in the league.
Active Winning Streaks (ACC)
Stout Defense
Defensively, Wake Forest has tallied four shutouts, while allowing only one goal this season, which leads the ACC. Additionally, the Demon Deacons have tallied an impressive .200 GAA.
Last season, the Deacs led the ACC in goals allowed with 16, while tallying nine shutouts over their 17 matches.
Goals Allowed (2022)
Let It Fly
Through five games, the Demon Deacons have attempted 88 shots this season, which ranks fifth in the ACC.
Shots (ACC)
In Goal
Goalkeepers Maddy Howard and Valentina Amaral have both shined in goal for Wake Forest. Howard currently ranks third in the ACC in save percentage (.917), fifth in GAA (.333) and seventh in saves per game (2.75).
Making Plays
Junior midfielder Nikayla Small currently ranks second in the ACC in assists with three on the season. The 2021 ACC All-Freshman selection is averaging an impressive .600 assists per game after notching assists against App State, Army and Purdue.
Dynamic Wings
Forwards Caiya Hanks and Liv Stowell both rank second in the ACC in game-winning goals with one apiece.
Last Time Out (Against Auburn)
In a highly anticipated ACC versus SEC showdown, Wake Forest downed Auburn, 2-0, Thursday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex in Auburn, Ala., to remain unbeaten on the 2023 campaign.
With the victory, the Demon Deacons improved to 3-1-1 all-time against Auburn and 2-0-1 against the SEC in the past two regular seasons. Additionally, Thursday's win extended the Deacs' regular season non-conference win streak to 21.
Wake Forest took a 1-0 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the first half Thursday when junior midfielder Anna Swanson forced an Auburn own goal after pressuring the Tigers' back line.
The Demon Deacons came out aggressive in the second half, controlling possession effectively. Just over four minutes into the frame, sophomore forward Alex Wood extended the Demon Deacons' lead when she fired a strike from the right wing past the Auburn keeper.
The Deacs refused to relinquish a significant opportunity for the remainder of the contest and held on to defeat the Tigers, 2-0.
Defensively, goalkeepers Maddy Howard and Valentina Amaral combined to register three saves en route to Thursday's clean sheet. Of note, Wake Forest has allowed only one goal over its first five matches this season.
Iona Breakdown
Series History (Wake Forest vs. Iona)
For the fourth time this season, the Demon Deacons will be matched up with an opponent they have never faced in program history. Of note, Sunday will mark the first time Wake Forest has ever squared off with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe.
Key Players to Watch
New Faces
Highlighted by the addition of North Carolina transfer forward Emily Murphy, Wake Forest added six newcomers to the program entering the 2023 season.
Of note, the Demon Deacons' freshman class - 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) - ranked 29th nationally, according to TopDrawerSoccer.
Up Next
After facing Iona, the Demon Deacons will hit the road for consecutive non-conference road matches against Rhode Island (Sept. 7) and Brown (Sept. 10), before opening ACC play against Notre Dame (Sept. 15).
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET, and the match can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Need to Know - Game 6
Wake Forest (4-0-1) vs. Iona (1-4-0)
Sunday, Sept. 3, 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.
Sunday will serve as the Deacs' Mental Health Awareness match, as well as Friendship Day. At the game, fans will have the opportunity to raise awareness for mental health by writing messages on posters and balloons that will be placed on the hill railings at Spry Stadium.
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. Gaels
- Wake Forest (4-0-1) will be looking to extend its unbeaten stretch against non-conference opponents in the regular season to 22, as the Deacs have posted a 18-0-3 record in such contests over the last three seasons.
- The Deacs have the eighth-best goals-against average in the nation (.200/game) and have earned four shutouts across the first five matches (also eighth in the nation).
- Iona (1-4-0) is currently on a two-match skid with losses to No. 9 Texas and Wagner. The Gaels' lone win came in a 1-0 battle with Le Moyne.
Hot Start
Through five games, Wake Forest is one of only four teams in the ACC with four or more wins to start the 2023 season. Additionally, the Demon Deacons' current three-match winning streak is the third longest in the league.
Active Winning Streaks (ACC)
| Rank | Team | Streak |
| 1. | Pitt | W5 |
| 2. | Clemson | W4 |
| 3. | Wake Forest | W3 |
| 4. | North Carolina | W2 |
| 5. | Florida State | W2 |
| 6. | Virginia | W2 |
Stout Defense
Defensively, Wake Forest has tallied four shutouts, while allowing only one goal this season, which leads the ACC. Additionally, the Demon Deacons have tallied an impressive .200 GAA.
Last season, the Deacs led the ACC in goals allowed with 16, while tallying nine shutouts over their 17 matches.
Goals Allowed (2022)
| 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 |
Let It Fly
Through five games, the Demon Deacons have attempted 88 shots this season, which ranks fifth in the ACC.
Shots (ACC)
| Rank | Team | Shots |
| 1. | Clemson | 130 |
| 2. | North Carolina | 126 |
| 3. | Pitt | 118 |
| 4. | Virginia | 102 |
| 5. | Wake Forest | 88 |
In Goal
Goalkeepers Maddy Howard and Valentina Amaral have both shined in goal for Wake Forest. Howard currently ranks third in the ACC in save percentage (.917), fifth in GAA (.333) and seventh in saves per game (2.75).
Making Plays
Junior midfielder Nikayla Small currently ranks second in the ACC in assists with three on the season. The 2021 ACC All-Freshman selection is averaging an impressive .600 assists per game after notching assists against App State, Army and Purdue.
Dynamic Wings
Forwards Caiya Hanks and Liv Stowell both rank second in the ACC in game-winning goals with one apiece.
Last Time Out (Against Auburn)
In a highly anticipated ACC versus SEC showdown, Wake Forest downed Auburn, 2-0, Thursday night at the Auburn Soccer Complex in Auburn, Ala., to remain unbeaten on the 2023 campaign.
With the victory, the Demon Deacons improved to 3-1-1 all-time against Auburn and 2-0-1 against the SEC in the past two regular seasons. Additionally, Thursday's win extended the Deacs' regular season non-conference win streak to 21.
Wake Forest took a 1-0 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the first half Thursday when junior midfielder Anna Swanson forced an Auburn own goal after pressuring the Tigers' back line.
The Demon Deacons came out aggressive in the second half, controlling possession effectively. Just over four minutes into the frame, sophomore forward Alex Wood extended the Demon Deacons' lead when she fired a strike from the right wing past the Auburn keeper.
The Deacs refused to relinquish a significant opportunity for the remainder of the contest and held on to defeat the Tigers, 2-0.
Defensively, goalkeepers Maddy Howard and Valentina Amaral combined to register three saves en route to Thursday's clean sheet. Of note, Wake Forest has allowed only one goal over its first five matches this season.
Iona Breakdown
- Iona has dropped four of its first five meetings this season with a goal differential of -16, conceding 17 and scoring just one.
- In their win against Le Moyne, junior forward Kedarjah Lewis scored the winner for the Gaels with just under 20 seconds to go.
- In their two other matches against Power Four opponents, the Gaels lost to No. 9 Texas (6-0) and Purdue (8-0).
- Last season, Iona posted an 8-7-4 record and a 3-6-1 record in conference play. Lewis led the team with five goals, four assists for 14 points.
Series History (Wake Forest vs. Iona)
For the fourth time this season, the Demon Deacons will be matched up with an opponent they have never faced in program history. Of note, Sunday will mark the first time Wake Forest has ever squared off with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe.
Key Players to Watch
- Laurel Ansbrow (Captain)
- Has logged a team-high 431 minutes to open the 2023 campaign.
- 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 back line to nine clean sheets last year.
- Caiya Hanks
- Currently leading the Deacs in shots (11) and shots on goal (6), while being tied for the team-lead in goals (2) and points (5).
- Scored with just over four minutes remaining against Army to equalize, before scoring the Deacs' first goal against Idaho State last Thursday.
- Earned ACC All-Freshman honors last season after starting in all 19 matches.
- Logged a team-high 41 shots last season.
- Nikayla Small
- Tallied assists on three of Wake Forest's nine goals to start the 2023 season.
- Garnered All-ACC Freshman Team honors in 2021, before suffering a season-ending injury last season.
New Faces
Highlighted by the addition of North Carolina transfer forward Emily Murphy, Wake Forest added six newcomers to the program entering the 2023 season.
Of note, the Demon Deacons' freshman class - 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) - ranked 29th nationally, according to TopDrawerSoccer.
Up Next
After facing Iona, the Demon Deacons will hit the road for consecutive non-conference road matches against Rhode Island (Sept. 7) and Brown (Sept. 10), before opening ACC play against Notre Dame (Sept. 15).
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
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