Thursday, September 7
Kingston, RI
7:00 P.M.
Wake Forest University
at
Rhode Island
Deacs Poised for Thursday Night Showdown With Rhode Island
9/6/2023 5:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Wake Forest is looking to remain unbeaten this season.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Boasting a four-match winning streak, the Wake Forest women's soccer team will return to action Thursday when the Demon Deacons travel to face Rhode Island at the URI Soccer Complex in Kingston, R.I.
Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET, and live stats can be found here. Of note, Thursday's match will not be streamed.
Need to Know - Game 7
Wake Forest (5-0-1) at Rhode Island (0-3-3)
Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 - 7:00 p.m. ET
Kingston, R.I. - URI Soccer Complex
Deacs vs. Rams
Stout Defense
Wake Forest currently leads the ACC and ranks second nationally with a .167 GAA through its first six matches.
Goals-Against-Average (ACC)
National Recognition
Wake Forest received votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll and jumped to eighth in the Atlantic Region. Additionally, the Deacs are currently ranked 27th in the latest Massey Ratings.
Playmaking Extraordinaire
Junior midfielder Nikayla Small currently ranks second in the ACC and eighth nationally in assists with five on the season. The 2021 ACC All-Freshman selection is averaging an impressive .830 assists per game after notching assists against App State, Army, Purdue and Iona.
Let It Fly
The Demon Deacons have attempted 21.50 shots per game this season, which ranks third in the ACC and ninth nationally.
Shots Per Game (ACC)
Last Time Out (Against Iona)
Behind a high-powered offensive attack, the Wake Forest defeated Iona in the first-ever meeting between the two teams, 6-0, Sunday evening at Spry Stadium.
The victory marked Wake Forest's 19th home victory over the past three seasons and its first-ever win against a MAAC opponent.
The Demon Deacons' six goals scored Sunday marked the most they've scored in a match since last season's 7-0 victory over High Point. Additionally, six different Deacs notched a tally, including senior goalkeeper Madison Howard.
As a team, Wake Forest attempted a season-high 41 shots with 21 coming on frame. Of note, 14 different players fired a shot Sunday, including eight that attempted three or more. Junior Emily Morris and sophomore Hannah Johnson paced the Deacs with six shots apiece.
The Demon Deacons' offensive onslaught was led by junior midfielder Nikayla Small as she registered two assists, bringing her season total to five through six matches.
Defensively, the Deacs had one their best performances of the season, only relinquishing one shot - which was off target. Wake Forest has now recorded five clean sheets to open the season, while allowing only one goal on the campaign.
Rhode Island Breakdown
Series History (Wake Forest vs. Rhode Island)
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 three-game road stretch with its final non-conference match of the season as it takes on Brown on Sunday, Sept. 10, before the ACC opener at Notre Dame on Friday, Sept. 15.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET, and live stats can be found here. Of note, Thursday's match will not be streamed.
Need to Know - Game 7
Wake Forest (5-0-1) at Rhode Island (0-3-3)
Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 - 7:00 p.m. ET
Kingston, R.I. - URI Soccer Complex
Deacs vs. Rams
- Wake Forest (5-0-1) will be looking to extend its unbeaten stretch against non-conference opponents in the regular season to 23, as the Deacs have posted a 19-0-3 record in such contests over the last three seasons.
- The Deacs have the second-best goals-against average in the nation (.167/game) and have earned five shutouts across the first six matches (also second in the nation).
- Wake Forest has also not allowed a goal in its last four matches, with its lone goal conceded coming in a 1-1 draw with Army on Aug. 20.
- Rhode Island (0-3-3) is searching for its first win despite allowing just four goals across six games this season, as the Rams have just one goal to their name this season.
Stout Defense
Wake Forest currently leads the ACC and ranks second nationally with a .167 GAA through its first six matches.
Goals-Against-Average (ACC)
| Rank | Team | GAA |
| 1. | Wake Forest | .167 |
| Clemson | .167 | |
| 3. | Virginia Tech | .333 |
| Virginia | .333 | |
| North Carolina | .333 |
National Recognition
Wake Forest received votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll and jumped to eighth in the Atlantic Region. Additionally, the Deacs are currently ranked 27th in the latest Massey Ratings.
Playmaking Extraordinaire
Junior midfielder Nikayla Small currently ranks second in the ACC and eighth nationally in assists with five on the season. The 2021 ACC All-Freshman selection is averaging an impressive .830 assists per game after notching assists against App State, Army, Purdue and Iona.
Let It Fly
The Demon Deacons have attempted 21.50 shots per game this season, which ranks third in the ACC and ninth nationally.
Shots Per Game (ACC)
| Rank | Team | Games | Shots Per Game |
| 1. | Clemson | 6 | 26.00 |
| 2. | Pitt | 6 | 24.50 |
| 3. | Wake Forest | 6 | 21.50 |
| 4. | North Carolina | 6 | 19.83 |
| 5. | Virginia | 6 | 18.83 |
Last Time Out (Against Iona)
Behind a high-powered offensive attack, the Wake Forest defeated Iona in the first-ever meeting between the two teams, 6-0, Sunday evening at Spry Stadium.
The victory marked Wake Forest's 19th home victory over the past three seasons and its first-ever win against a MAAC opponent.
The Demon Deacons' six goals scored Sunday marked the most they've scored in a match since last season's 7-0 victory over High Point. Additionally, six different Deacs notched a tally, including senior goalkeeper Madison Howard.
As a team, Wake Forest attempted a season-high 41 shots with 21 coming on frame. Of note, 14 different players fired a shot Sunday, including eight that attempted three or more. Junior Emily Morris and sophomore Hannah Johnson paced the Deacs with six shots apiece.
The Demon Deacons' offensive onslaught was led by junior midfielder Nikayla Small as she registered two assists, bringing her season total to five through six matches.
Defensively, the Deacs had one their best performances of the season, only relinquishing one shot - which was off target. Wake Forest has now recorded five clean sheets to open the season, while allowing only one goal on the campaign.
Rhode Island Breakdown
- Rhode Island enters Thursday's contest with an 0-3-3 ledger across its first six matches.
- Despite failing to earn a victory this season, the Rams have only relinquished four goals – which ranks 61st nationally.
- Rhode Island has picked up three hard-fought draws over its last four matches.
- The team has conceded just four goals all season and scored their first goal of the season in their last match against Le Moyne.
- Senior midfielder Tess O'Connell opened the scoring in the second minute for the Rams with a header off of a corner from sophomore defender Erin Hopewell.
- The Rams conceded an equalizer in the 75th as the game ended, 1-1.
- The team has conceded just four goals all season and scored their first goal of the season in their last match against Le Moyne.
Series History (Wake Forest vs. Rhode Island)
- The Demon Deacons are 2-0 all-time against the Rams, including a 4-1 win in Winston-Salem last season in the second game of the season.
- Alex Wood bagged her first and second career goals within a span of 10 minutes.
- Her brace was accompanied by goals from Liv Stowell and Giovanna DeMarco en route to the victory.
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
Wake Forest will continue its three-game road stretch with its final non-conference match of the season as it takes on Brown on Sunday, Sept. 10, before the ACC opener at Notre Dame on Friday, Sept. 15.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
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