Friday, November 15
Winston-Salem, N.C.
6 p.m.
Wake Forest University
13-3-3, 7-2-1
4
vs
0
Morehead State
9-8-6, 4-3-2
1
2
F
Morehead St.
0
0
0
Wake Forest
4
0
4
Wake Forest Downs Morehead State, Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament
11/15/2024 9:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Demon Deacons will now host Colorado next Friday in the Round of 32.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – For the second time in the last four seasons, the No. 2-seeded Wake Forest women's soccer team (13-3-3) has advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament following a dominant 4-0 victory over Morehead State (9-8-6) in the opening round Friday night at Spry Stadium.
The Demon Deacons immediately opened their postseason on the front foot, as Anna Swanson recorded her fourth goal of the season just 107 seconds after the opening kickoff.
The lead quickly jumped to 3-0 by the 15th minute, as All-ACC first-team selection Caiya Hanks logged two quick goals in succession. In the 26th minute, team captain Emily Murphy extended the lead to 4-0.
Hanks moved into the top 10 in program history in points (29), goals (10) and assists (9) for a single season. Her four goal contributions and six points are a career-high as she became the first Demon Deacon to record six points in a single game since Shayla Smart did so against Loyola Maryland on Sept. 2, 2021.
The Hawaiian's 29 points this year is also the most for the Deacs since 2011 and her nine assists are the most since 2009. Additionally, it was the All-ACC First Team selection's sixth game with at least two goal contributions this season and third brace.
Fellow All-ACC honoree Emily Colton logged assists on both of Hanks' goals as she now has seven on the year in addition to a career-high 19 points. The senior standout has recorded at least one goal contribution in 10 of her last 14 matches. It marked the first multi-assist game of her career.
Wake Forest finished the night with sizable advantages in shots (30-5), shots on goal (13-1), corner kicks (11-0) and possession (76 percent), showcasing the overall dominant performance by the Demon Deacons.
Four goals is the most for the Deacs in the NCAA Tournament since the 4-0 victory over Georgia Southern in 2012.
In goal, Valentina Amaral and Paige Nurkin combined to earn Wake Forest's 10th clean sheet of the season.
How It Happened
"We were in control from the first whistle, scoring an early goal and pouring on relentless pressure. Caiya was first class tonight. Her finishing on her second was world class. Our movement and tempo was excellent, playing fast and simple is what we do best and tonight showcased our passing game. Our entire roster was sharp, and ready to play. We look forward to hosting the next round."
Up Next
Wake Forest will now look ahead to next weekend, as Spry Stadium will host two second-round matches on Friday, Nov. 22 and a third-round clash on Sunday, Nov. 24. The Deacs' second-round clash will come against Colorado on Friday night at 6 p.m.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
The Demon Deacons immediately opened their postseason on the front foot, as Anna Swanson recorded her fourth goal of the season just 107 seconds after the opening kickoff.
The lead quickly jumped to 3-0 by the 15th minute, as All-ACC first-team selection Caiya Hanks logged two quick goals in succession. In the 26th minute, team captain Emily Murphy extended the lead to 4-0.
Hanks moved into the top 10 in program history in points (29), goals (10) and assists (9) for a single season. Her four goal contributions and six points are a career-high as she became the first Demon Deacon to record six points in a single game since Shayla Smart did so against Loyola Maryland on Sept. 2, 2021.
The Hawaiian's 29 points this year is also the most for the Deacs since 2011 and her nine assists are the most since 2009. Additionally, it was the All-ACC First Team selection's sixth game with at least two goal contributions this season and third brace.
Fellow All-ACC honoree Emily Colton logged assists on both of Hanks' goals as she now has seven on the year in addition to a career-high 19 points. The senior standout has recorded at least one goal contribution in 10 of her last 14 matches. It marked the first multi-assist game of her career.
Wake Forest finished the night with sizable advantages in shots (30-5), shots on goal (13-1), corner kicks (11-0) and possession (76 percent), showcasing the overall dominant performance by the Demon Deacons.
Four goals is the most for the Deacs in the NCAA Tournament since the 4-0 victory over Georgia Southern in 2012.
In goal, Valentina Amaral and Paige Nurkin combined to earn Wake Forest's 10th clean sheet of the season.
How It Happened
- Wake Forest opened the game with a second-minute goal, as Caiya Hanks created a fantastic individual effort down the side of the 18 before cutting the ball over to Anna Swanson.
- The goal was Swanson's fourth of the season and her first since a brace against UNC Asheville on Sept. 8.
- The Demon Deacons quickly boosted their lead to 2-0 in the 13th minute, as Hanks scored off a free kick from Emily Colton.
- It marks the fourth time this season the Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, native has recorded a goal and an assist in a match (Syracuse, SMU and Pitt).
- Hanks added to her goal total just two minutes later, driving through the middle of the Eagles' defense for a 15th-minute goal.
- With 10 goals on the season, Hanks becomes the first Demon Deacon to tally a double-digit goal total since Shayla Smart's 11 during the 2021 season.
- Emily Murphy extended the Wake Forest lead to 4-0 with 19:34 remaining in the first half for the fifth goal of her senior campaign.
- Hanks recorded an assist on the goal, as her six points (two goals and two assists) are the most by a Demon Deacon in a single match since Smart's six against Loyola Maryland on Sept. 2, 2021.
- The Demon Deacons went into halftime with a 4-0 lead, outshooting Morehead State 19-2 and holding a 6-0 advantage of corner kicks in the opening 45 in the process.
- Paige Nurkin started in goal for the Deacs in the second half, making her third appearance in a Wake Forest uniform and her first since a 3-0 victory at Syracuse on Sept. 29.
- Abbie Colton had the first Wake Forest shot on goal in the second half, a 57th-minute attempt that was saved.
- Wake Forest was awarded a penalty kick attempt in the 65th minute, but the Deacs' attempt hit off the post.
- Nikki Small, returning to action for the first time since scoring the game-winning goal against NC State in the regular season finale, nearly got the Deacs a fifth on a beautifully placed through ball. Her attempt, however, was saved.
- The Demon Deacons held strong until the final whistle to secure the 4-0 shutout victory.
- Wake Forest advanced to the round of 32 for the 15th time in program history and for the second time in the last four years.
- The Deacs hold an overall record of 23-21-1 in the tournament, including a 15-2-1 mark in Winston-Salem.
- Wake Forest entered the match ranked in the top five of the ACC in multiple categories, including ranking first goals-against average (.659), fifth in shots per game (17.06), fourth in corners per game (6.22) and fifth in goal differential (+23).
- Hanks moved into the top 10 in program history in points (29), goals (10) and assists (9) for a single season.
- Her four goal contributions and six points are a career-high as she became the first Demon Deacon to record six points in a single game since Shayla Smart did so against Loyola Maryland on Sept. 2, 2021.
- Emily Colton logged assists on both of Hanks' goals as she now has seven on the year in addition to a career-high 19 points.
- The senior standout has recorded at least one goal contribution in 10 of her last 14 matches. It marked the first multi-assist game of her career.
- With her strike in the first half, Emily Murphy continued her incredible eight-game stretch, scoring five times and notching four assists.
- She is second on the team with a career-high seven assists this season and ranks third in the squad with 17 total points.
- Additionally, she has 21 goals and 19 assists for her collegiate career, putting her at 61 points.
- Four goals is the most for the Deacs in the NCAA Tournament since the 4-0 victory over Georgia Southern in 2012.
- The Demon Deacons have three players with double-digit points and eight players with five or more so far in 2024.
- Caiya Hanks - 29 points (10 goals, 9 assists)
- Emily Colton - 19 points (6 goals, 7 assists)
- Emily Murphy - 17 points (5 goals, 7 assists)
- Sierra Sythe - 9 points (3 goals, 3 assists)
- Nikayla Small - 9 points (3 goals, 3 assists)
- Anna Swanson - 9 points (4 goals, 1 assist)
- Hannah Johnson - 7 points (3 goals, 1 assist)
- Emily Morris - 6 points (2 goals, 2 assists)
- The Demon Deacons are currently ranked No. 3 in United Soccer Coaches Poll. This season, they were ranked as high as No. 2, the highest ranking in program history.
- Additionally, Wake Forest sits seventh in RPI and third in the TopDrawerSoccer poll.
- Alex Wood made her 50th-career appearance.
"We were in control from the first whistle, scoring an early goal and pouring on relentless pressure. Caiya was first class tonight. Her finishing on her second was world class. Our movement and tempo was excellent, playing fast and simple is what we do best and tonight showcased our passing game. Our entire roster was sharp, and ready to play. We look forward to hosting the next round."
Up Next
Wake Forest will now look ahead to next weekend, as Spry Stadium will host two second-round matches on Friday, Nov. 22 and a third-round clash on Sunday, Nov. 24. The Deacs' second-round clash will come against Colorado on Friday night at 6 p.m.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Team Stats
MSU
WFU
Goals
0
4
Shots
5
30
Shots on Goal
1
13
Saves
9
1
Corners
0
11
Fouls
5
3
Scoring Plays
Anna Swanson (4)
Assisted By: Caiya Hanks
GOAL by WFU Swanson, Anna Assist by Hanks, Caiya.
01:47
Caiya Hanks (10)
Assisted By: Emily Colton
GOAL by WFU Hanks, Caiya Assist by Colton, Emily.
12:26
Caiya Hanks (10)
Assisted By: Dempsey Brown , Emily Colton
GOAL by WFU Hanks, Caiya Assist by Brown, Dempsey and Colton, Emily.
14:49
Emily Murphy (5)
Assisted By: Caiya Hanks
GOAL by WFU Murphy, Emily Assist by Hanks, Caiya.
25:22
Game Leaders
mid
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
2
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
2
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's SoccerMidfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's SoccerForward
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
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