Thursday, September 21
Winston-Salem, N.C.
8:00 P.M.
Wake Forest University
vs
NC State
Deacs to Host NC State in ACC Home Opener
9/20/2023 5:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Wake Forest owns a 19-8-2 ledger all-time against the Wolfpack, including a 9-2-1 mark at Spry Stadium.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Winners of five of their last six, the Wake Forest women's soccer team will return to Spry Stadium for a match up with Big Four opponent NC State Thursday in the Demon Deacons' 2023 ACC home opener.
Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET, and the match can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Need to Know - Game 9
Wake Forest (6-1-1, 0-1 ACC) vs. NC State (1-5-3, 0-1 ACC)
Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 - 8 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, fans can enter a raffle to win a retro Wake Forest women's soccer jersey. Additionally, the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Wake Forest Soccer scarf.
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. Wolfpack
Dynamic Duo
Wake Forest has been led by sophomore forward Caiya Hanks, as she's tallied four goals and three assists this season – which ranks eighth and ninth in the ACC, respectively.
Junior midfielder Nikayla Small has also had an excellent start to the 2023 campaign, as she ranks second in the ACC in assists with a team-high six.
Chasing History
Head coach Tony da Luz is just one win shy of surpassing the 300-win mark at Wake Forest. Additionally, a win Thursday would mark his 100th-career ACC win.
Stout Defense
Wake Forest currently ranks third in the ACC and 36th nationally with a .625 GAA through its first eight matches.
Goals-Against-Average (ACC)
Shots on Target
The Demon Deacons have attempted 18.75 shots per game this season, which ranks fifth in the ACC and 23rd nationally. Additionally, the Deacs rank third in the ACC in shots on goal per game with 7.75.
SOG Per Game (ACC)
Last Time Out (Against Notre Dame)
Wake Forest dropped a 3-1 decision to then-No. 13 Notre Dame Friday evening at Alumni Soccer Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
The loss marked the Demon Deacons' first of the 2023 campaign and snapped the Deacs' five-match winning streak.
Sophomore forward Caiya Hanks scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 85th minute Friday on an assist from junior midfielder Nikayla Small.
Notre Dame's three goals scored Friday marked the first time this season that Wake Forest had allowed multiple goals in a contest. Additionally, the Irish's three goals were the most the Demon Deacons had allowed since last season's 3-0 loss to the Fighting Irish.
After missing the first seven matches of the season, junior midfielder Malaika Meena made her first appearance of the 2023 campaign Friday. Of note, Meena started in 17 matches a season ago and accumulated 1239 minutes.
NC State Breakdown
Series History (Wake Forest vs. NC State)
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 either ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll.
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.
Up Next
Wake Forest will continue its two-match home stand, hosting No. 22 Virginia on Sunday (Sept. 24) at 2 p.m.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. ET, and the match can be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Need to Know - Game 9
Wake Forest (6-1-1, 0-1 ACC) vs. NC State (1-5-3, 0-1 ACC)
Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 - 8 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, fans can enter a raffle to win a retro Wake Forest women's soccer jersey. Additionally, the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Wake Forest Soccer scarf.
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. Wolfpack
- Wake Forest (6-1-1) is seeking its first ACC win of the 2023 campaign when it hosts NC State (1-5-3) Thursday.
- The Demon Deacons enter Thursday's match, ranking third in the ACC in shots and fifth in goals.
- Additionally, the Deacs have shined defensively, ranking third in the league in goals-against-average.
- Wake Forest has outscored its opponents 19-5 overall this season, while allowing only 6.9 shot attempts per game.
- NC State is coming off a 2-0 loss to Pitt in its ACC opener.
- Coming into Thursday's matchup, the Wolfpack rank first in the ACC in saves with 48.
- Goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas leads the ACC in saves per game with 5.17.
- Offensively, the Pack is led by preseason All-ACC selection Jameese Joseph – who ranks seventh in the league in shots.
- Last season, the Wolfpack defeated the Demon Deacons 2-1 behind goals from Alexis Strickland and Joseph.
- Despite falling 2-1, the Deacs outshot the Pack (10-7) and tallied more corners (6-2).
Dynamic Duo
Wake Forest has been led by sophomore forward Caiya Hanks, as she's tallied four goals and three assists this season – which ranks eighth and ninth in the ACC, respectively.
Junior midfielder Nikayla Small has also had an excellent start to the 2023 campaign, as she ranks second in the ACC in assists with a team-high six.
Chasing History
Head coach Tony da Luz is just one win shy of surpassing the 300-win mark at Wake Forest. Additionally, a win Thursday would mark his 100th-career ACC win.
Stout Defense
Wake Forest currently ranks third in the ACC and 36th nationally with a .625 GAA through its first eight matches.
Goals-Against-Average (ACC)
| Rank | Team | GAA |
| 1. | Virginia | .375 |
| 2. | North Carolina | .444 |
| 3. | Wake Forest | .625 |
| 4. | Virginia Tech | .667 |
| Clemson | .667 |
Shots on Target
The Demon Deacons have attempted 18.75 shots per game this season, which ranks fifth in the ACC and 23rd nationally. Additionally, the Deacs rank third in the ACC in shots on goal per game with 7.75.
SOG Per Game (ACC)
| Rank | Team | Games | SOG Per Game |
| 1. | Pitt | 9 | 10.78 |
| 2. | Clemson | 9 | 10.00 |
| 3. | Wake Forest | 8 | 7.75 |
| 4. | Virginia | 8 | 7.38 |
| 5. | North Carolina | 9 | 7.33 |
Last Time Out (Against Notre Dame)
Wake Forest dropped a 3-1 decision to then-No. 13 Notre Dame Friday evening at Alumni Soccer Stadium in South Bend, Ind.
The loss marked the Demon Deacons' first of the 2023 campaign and snapped the Deacs' five-match winning streak.
Sophomore forward Caiya Hanks scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 85th minute Friday on an assist from junior midfielder Nikayla Small.
Notre Dame's three goals scored Friday marked the first time this season that Wake Forest had allowed multiple goals in a contest. Additionally, the Irish's three goals were the most the Demon Deacons had allowed since last season's 3-0 loss to the Fighting Irish.
After missing the first seven matches of the season, junior midfielder Malaika Meena made her first appearance of the 2023 campaign Friday. Of note, Meena started in 17 matches a season ago and accumulated 1239 minutes.
NC State Breakdown
- Following an appearance in the 2022 NCAA tournament, NC State was picked to finish 10th in the ACC this season.
- Last season, the Wolfpack posted a 7-7-6 record and fell to No. 20 UCF on PKs in the first round.
- NC State is coached by former Wake Forest associate head coach, Tim Santoro.
- Last season, the Wolfpack posted a 7-7-6 record and fell to No. 20 UCF on PKs in the first round.
- Junior forward Jameese Joseph was named to the 2023 Preseason All-ACC Team after notching eight goals and two assists last season.
- Offensively, the Pack has been led by the trio of Joseph, Alexis Strickland and Annika Wohner as they've combined for seven of the teams 10 goals this season.
- Of note, NC State ranks second in the ACC in Yellow Cards with 12 on the season.
Series History (Wake Forest vs. NC State)
- The Demon Deacons own a 19-8-2 ledger all-time against the Wolfpack, including a 9-2-1 mark at Spry Stadium.
- Wake Forest has only dropped three of the last 24 meetings dating back to 1998, after dropping the first five contests of the series.
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 either ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll.
- 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
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.
Up Next
Wake Forest will continue its two-match home stand, hosting No. 22 Virginia on Sunday (Sept. 24) at 2 p.m.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
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