Friday, September 29
Blacksburg, VA
7:00 P.M.
Wake Forest University
at
Virginia Tech
No. 25 Wake Forest Opens Three-Match Road Swing at Virginia Tech Friday
9/28/2023 11:59:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The Deacs are seeking their second victory over the Hokies in the past three seasons.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Following an upset over then-No. 22 Virginia Sunday, the No. 25-ranked Wake Forest women's soccer team will open a three-match road swing when the Demon Deacons travel to Blacksburg, Va. to take on Virginia Tech Friday at Thompson Field.
Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET, and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Need to Know - Game 11
No. 25 Wake Forest (7-1-2, 1-1-1 ACC) at Virginia Tech (5-3-3, 2-0-0 ACC)
Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 - 7:00 p.m. ET - ACCNX
Blacksburg, Va. - Thompson Field
Deacs vs. Hokies
Wake Forest has been led by sophomore forward Caiya Hanks, as she's tallied five goals this season – which ranks sixth in the ACC.
Junior midfielder Nikayla Small has also had an excellent start to the 2023 campaign, as she leads the ACC in assists with seven.
Historic Victory for da Luz
Sunday's victory over Virginia marked head coach Tony da Luz's 300th-win at Wake Forest, making him one of only four current ACC head coaches with 300+ wins at their respective programs. Additionally, Sunday's win marked his 100th-career ACC victory.
Stout Defense
Wake Forest currently ranks second in the ACC and 28th nationally with a .600 GAA through its first 10 matches.
Goals-Against-Average (ACC)
National Recognition
No. 25 Wake Forest earned its first ranking of the 2023 campaign Tuesday when the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll was released. The nod marked the Deacs' first time being ranked in the national poll since Sept. 6, 2022.
Let It Fly
The Demon Deacons have attempted 18.90 shots per game this season, which ranks fourth in the ACC and 11th nationally. Additionally, the Deacs rank fourth in the ACC in shots on goal per game with 7.70.
Last Time Out (Virginia)
Behind a pair of second half goals from junior midfielder Anna Swanson and sophomore forward Hannah Johnson, Wake Forest stunned then-No. 22 Virginia, 2-0, Sunday evening at Spry Stadium.
After being engaged in a defensive battle for the first 77 minutes of play Sunday, the Demon Deacons took a 1-0 lead, as junior midfielder Nikayala Small cut inside on her right foot and forced a diving save from the Virginia keeper. Swanson then pounced on the rebound, firing a strike into the net for her first-career goal.
The Deacs extended their lead in the 89th minute as Johnson tapped in a goal on an assist from sophomore forward CaiyaHanks.
Wake Forest dominated throughout the contest, as the Deacs held a 19-8 (9-1 on-goal) shot advantage over the Cavaliers. Additionally, Wake Forest held 56 percent of the possession and earned six corners to Virginia's two.
Individually, Hanks led the team with four shots (two on goal) in addition to her fourth assist of the season, bringing her team-high points tally to 14. Junior midfielder Malaika Meena, Swanson and Small all fired three shots of their own.
Of note, junior goalkeeper Payton Cahill made her first-career start and appearance Sunday, leading the Deacs to their sixth clean sheet of the season.
Virginia Tech Breakdown
Series History (Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech)
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
After squaring off with Virginia Tech, Wake Forest will hit the road for matches against Syracuse (Oct. 5) and Pitt (Oct. 8).
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET, and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Need to Know - Game 11
No. 25 Wake Forest (7-1-2, 1-1-1 ACC) at Virginia Tech (5-3-3, 2-0-0 ACC)
Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 - 7:00 p.m. ET - ACCNX
Blacksburg, Va. - Thompson Field
Deacs vs. Hokies
- The No. 25-ranked Demon Deacons come into Friday's match on the back of a home 2-0 win over then-No. 22 Virginia. The victory brought the Deacs' ACC points tally to four, good for seventh in the conference.
- The Hokies are coming off a dominant 4-0 victory over Syracuse on the road. They currently sit at fifth place in the ACC with six points. The win brought their RPI ranking up to 31st.
Wake Forest has been led by sophomore forward Caiya Hanks, as she's tallied five goals this season – which ranks sixth in the ACC.
Junior midfielder Nikayla Small has also had an excellent start to the 2023 campaign, as she leads the ACC in assists with seven.
Historic Victory for da Luz
Sunday's victory over Virginia marked head coach Tony da Luz's 300th-win at Wake Forest, making him one of only four current ACC head coaches with 300+ wins at their respective programs. Additionally, Sunday's win marked his 100th-career ACC victory.
Stout Defense
Wake Forest currently ranks second in the ACC and 28th nationally with a .600 GAA through its first 10 matches.
Goals-Against-Average (ACC)
| Rank | Team | GAA |
| 1. | Clemson | .545 |
| 2. | Wake Forest | .600 |
| Virginia | .600 | |
| 4. | Virginia Tech | .636 |
| North Carolina | .636 |
National Recognition
No. 25 Wake Forest earned its first ranking of the 2023 campaign Tuesday when the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll was released. The nod marked the Deacs' first time being ranked in the national poll since Sept. 6, 2022.
Let It Fly
The Demon Deacons have attempted 18.90 shots per game this season, which ranks fourth in the ACC and 11th nationally. Additionally, the Deacs rank fourth in the ACC in shots on goal per game with 7.70.
Last Time Out (Virginia)
Behind a pair of second half goals from junior midfielder Anna Swanson and sophomore forward Hannah Johnson, Wake Forest stunned then-No. 22 Virginia, 2-0, Sunday evening at Spry Stadium.
After being engaged in a defensive battle for the first 77 minutes of play Sunday, the Demon Deacons took a 1-0 lead, as junior midfielder Nikayala Small cut inside on her right foot and forced a diving save from the Virginia keeper. Swanson then pounced on the rebound, firing a strike into the net for her first-career goal.
The Deacs extended their lead in the 89th minute as Johnson tapped in a goal on an assist from sophomore forward CaiyaHanks.
Wake Forest dominated throughout the contest, as the Deacs held a 19-8 (9-1 on-goal) shot advantage over the Cavaliers. Additionally, Wake Forest held 56 percent of the possession and earned six corners to Virginia's two.
Individually, Hanks led the team with four shots (two on goal) in addition to her fourth assist of the season, bringing her team-high points tally to 14. Junior midfielder Malaika Meena, Swanson and Small all fired three shots of their own.
Of note, junior goalkeeper Payton Cahill made her first-career start and appearance Sunday, leading the Deacs to their sixth clean sheet of the season.
Virginia Tech Breakdown
- Virginia Tech ranks fourth in the ACC and 34th in the nation with .636 goals allowed per game. Additionally, the Hokies are fourth in the conference with a .545 shutout percentage.
- A large part of their defensive success is credited to senior goalkeeper Alia Skinner.
- The Florida native has already earned six clean sheets this season through 11 games, including a five-save performance in the 4-0 victory at Syracuse last weekend.
- She also leads the ACC in save percentage (.854) and is second in the conference in total saves (41).
- The Florida native has already earned six clean sheets this season through 11 games, including a five-save performance in the 4-0 victory at Syracuse last weekend.
- Offensively, the Hokies are led by sophomore forward Natalie Mitchell.
- She's tallied a team-high six goals and is the only player on the team to record more than two so far this season.
- Three of her six goals came in the last two games.
- She scored both goals in Virginia Tech's 2-1 win over Boston College (9/21), including the winner in the 71st minute.
- She's tallied a team-high six goals and is the only player on the team to record more than two so far this season.
Series History (Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech)
- Wake Forest is 7-10-3 against Virginia Tech all-time, including a 3-5-1 mark in Blacksburg.
- Last season, the Deacs fell to the Hokies, 2-0.
- In 2021, the two teams battled in an electric, 4-3 victory for Wake Forest.
- 2023 Wake Forest assist leader Nikayla Small picked up her first-career assist against an ACC opponent in the win.
- The Deacs' last road win in the series came in a 1-0 win over the fifth-ranked Hokies in 2014.
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
| 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
After squaring off with Virginia Tech, Wake Forest will hit the road for matches against Syracuse (Oct. 5) and Pitt (Oct. 8).
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
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