Wake Forest Battles to 1-1 Draw with NC State

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest women's soccer team endured a hard-fought, physical 1-1 draw with Big Four foe NC State Thursday night at Spry Stadium in the Demon Deacons' ACC home opener.

The Deacs (6-1-2, 0-1-1 ACC) dominated most of the contest, as they held a 20-3 edge in shots, including 13-2 in the second half. Additionally, Wake Forest controlled 61 percent of possession and won seven corners, while conceding just one.

After an NC State goal gave the Wolfpack the lead in the 72nd minute, the Deacs responded in the 83rd as sophomore forward Caiya Hanks sprinted down the pitch, eluding several Wolfpack defenders and leveled the game at 1-1.

Over the final six minutes of play, Wake Forest continued to pressure NC State's back line but was unable to find the go-ahead goal as the match ended in a 1-1 tie.

Of note, Hanks' tally Thursday marked her fifth goal of the season and the sixth of her career.

After making her season debut last Friday against Notre Dame, junior midfielder Malaika Meena made her first start of the 2023 campaign. Meena started in 17 matches a season ago and accumulated 1239 minutes.

How It Happened

Wake Forest came out aggressive, controlling possession in the early going.
- The Demon Deacons earned their first corner in the fourth minute.
  - Caiya Hanks sent a ball into the box that Emily Murphy headed, but the attempt was saved by NC State's keeper.
Minutes later, Hanks fired a shot that went just over the crossbar.
In the 15th minute, Nikayla Small was fouled just outside the 18, resulting in a Wake Forest free kick.
- Emily Murphy blasted a shot that went just off frame.
For the ensuing five minutes, Wake Forest controlled possession.
Hanks attempted another shot in the 25th minute but it went wide left.
NC State's first attempt came in the 33rd minute by way of Jade Bordeleau.
- Madison Howard tallied a save for her first of the match.
Over the final 12 minutes of the half, Wake Forest continuously pressured the NC State back line.
The two sides entered the halftime break tied at 0.
- Of note, the Deacs controlled possession 64 percent in the first half.
Wake Forest attempted seven shots during the opening 45 minutes.
- Hanks paced the Deacs with four, while Murphy tallied two.
The Demon Deacons earned their first corner of the second half nine minutes into the frame.
- Seconds later, Murphy served a perfect cross to Dempsey Brown, but Brown's attempt drifted just off target.
Emily Morris had another opportunity for the Deacs in the 64th minute but her shot went wide left.
NC State took a 1-0 lead in the 72nd minute on a header from Bordeleau.
Brown nearly evened the ledger six minutes later but her shot went just over the woodwork.
With just under eight minutes remaining, Hanks tied it up as she recorded her fifth tally of the season with a solo goal.
- The sophomore picked the ball up around the halfway line and carried it down the wing, before she cut inside on her left foot and fired it into the bottom-right corner.
Despite having four shots over the final six minutes of the match, the Demon Deacons were unable to find a winner as the contest ended 1-1.

Demon Deacon Details of Note

Laurel Ansbrow made her 30th-career appearance.
Zara Chavoshi made her 40th-career appearance.
Carrie McIntire made her first start of the season and the 15th of her career on her senior night.
Malaika Meena made her first start of the season.

Standout Stats

Wake Forest held NC State to only three shot attempts, which is the fewest allowed by the Deacs against an ACC opponent since Oct. 9, 2022 against Miami.
Thursday's goal was Hanks' fifth of the season and the sixth of her career, bringing her career-points tally to 18.
The Demon Deacons attempted 20 shots Thursday, which marked the fourth time this season that they've attempted 20 or more.
- Coming into Thursday, the Deacs ranked fifth in the ACC and 23rd nationally in shots per game.

Tony Time with Coach da Luz
"I thought it was a little bit closer, 50-50, in the first half. We had a little bit more of the ball and were a little more dangerous in the final third. Then, in the second half, we dominated the ball and created a lot of chances. I thought we had the winner there. It was a typical ACC game. Both teams were trying to get points. They were trying to get points on the road, which is really hard to do, so you've got to give them credit. We have a good team and we're going to win games in the league."

Up Next
Wake Forest will continue its two-match home stand, hosting No. 22 Virginia on Sunday (Sept. 24) at 2 p.m.

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Team Stats

Caiya Hanks

Emily Morris

Emily Murphy

Dempsey Brown

Players Mentioned

Laurel Ansbrow

Dempsey Brown

Zara Chavoshi

Caiya Hanks

Madison Howard

Carrie McIntire

Malaika Meena

Emily Morris

Emily Murphy

Nikayla Small

Wake Forest Athletics