Friday, November 22
Winston-Salem, N.C.
6 p.m.
Wake Forest University
14-3-3, 7-2-1
3
vs
1
Colorado
12-5-5, 4-2-5
1
2
F
Colorado
0
1
1
Wake Forest
1
2
3
Demon Deacons Advance to Round of 16 Following 3-1 Victory Over Colorado
11/22/2024 9:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Sunday will mark Wake Forest’s sixth all-time appearance in the round of 16 and first since 2018.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – For the first time since 2018, the No. 2-seeded Wake Forest women's soccer team has advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament following a 3-1 victory over Colorado Friday night at Spry Stadium.
The Demon Deacons (14-3-3) opened the scoring in the sixth minute, as great ball movement led to a clear shot at goal for senior midfielder Emily Colton, who finished with ease for her seventh goal of the season. Senior forward Emily Murphy and junior forward Caiya Hanks logged assists on the strike.
Colton has recorded at least one goal contribution in 11 of her last 15 appearances for the Demon Deacons and is second on the team with 21 total points. She now has seven goals on the year, which ties a career high she set her freshman campaign. Additionally, her seven assists this season also set a career best.
After holding Colorado (12-5-5) to just one shot in the first half, Wake Forest doubled its advantage in the 61st minute, courtesy of a phenomenal goal from distance by senior midfielder Emily Morris. It marked her third goal of the season and second in the last three games.
The Buffaloes got a goal back in the 74th minute, but Murphy put the game away with two minutes left after a long run on a counter attack resulted in her sixth goal of the season. It marked Murphy's fourth game with multiple goal contributions this season, all coming in the last eight matches.
With her assist on the opener, Hanks became just the sixth player at the D1 level this season to reach 10 goals and 10 assists, and third to do so in program history, joining Anne Shropshire (1998) and Kaley Fountain (2009). Additionally, she currently ranks inside the top 10 in program history in points (30), goals (10) and assists (10) for a single season.
Senior defenders Laurel Ansbrow, Zara Chavoshi and Kristin Johnson all went the full 90 and helped limit the visitors to just five shots on goal. Redshirt freshman Valentina Amaral stopped four shots and improved to 10-2-2 in starts for her career.
Overall, the Demon Deacons out-shot the Buffaloes 21-to-11 and held 59 percent of the ball. Hanks and Morris led the team with four attempts apiece.
Sweet 16 Bound
"I'm so proud of this team. We came out fast, sustained a high level and defended very well. Colorado is a difficult opponent, with talent and grit. We dealt with their long free kicks and long throws incredibly well. Our tempo was sharp, creating good chances with some special goals by Emily Colton, Emily Morris and Emily Murphy. Fun night, now we focus on Sunday!"
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will have a quick turnaround as they prepare to host (3) Ohio State/(6) Auburn on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Spry Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
The Demon Deacons (14-3-3) opened the scoring in the sixth minute, as great ball movement led to a clear shot at goal for senior midfielder Emily Colton, who finished with ease for her seventh goal of the season. Senior forward Emily Murphy and junior forward Caiya Hanks logged assists on the strike.
Colton has recorded at least one goal contribution in 11 of her last 15 appearances for the Demon Deacons and is second on the team with 21 total points. She now has seven goals on the year, which ties a career high she set her freshman campaign. Additionally, her seven assists this season also set a career best.
After holding Colorado (12-5-5) to just one shot in the first half, Wake Forest doubled its advantage in the 61st minute, courtesy of a phenomenal goal from distance by senior midfielder Emily Morris. It marked her third goal of the season and second in the last three games.
The Buffaloes got a goal back in the 74th minute, but Murphy put the game away with two minutes left after a long run on a counter attack resulted in her sixth goal of the season. It marked Murphy's fourth game with multiple goal contributions this season, all coming in the last eight matches.
With her assist on the opener, Hanks became just the sixth player at the D1 level this season to reach 10 goals and 10 assists, and third to do so in program history, joining Anne Shropshire (1998) and Kaley Fountain (2009). Additionally, she currently ranks inside the top 10 in program history in points (30), goals (10) and assists (10) for a single season.
Senior defenders Laurel Ansbrow, Zara Chavoshi and Kristin Johnson all went the full 90 and helped limit the visitors to just five shots on goal. Redshirt freshman Valentina Amaral stopped four shots and improved to 10-2-2 in starts for her career.
Overall, the Demon Deacons out-shot the Buffaloes 21-to-11 and held 59 percent of the ball. Hanks and Morris led the team with four attempts apiece.
Sweet 16 Bound
- The Demon Deacons will now host three-seeded Ohio State at Spry Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. in the round of 16.
- The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
- Wake Forest will be making its sixth all-time appearance in the round of 16 and first since 2018.
- The Deacs hold a 2-2-1 record in the round of 16, advancing to the quarterfinals in 2009 and 2011.
- Friday marked the Deacs' 16th all-time appearance in the Round of 32 and second in the last four seasons (2021).
- Wake Forest is in the midst of its 23rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament, with 22 of them coming under the helm of Tony da Luz.
- The Demon Deacons have made three of the last four tournaments, just missing out last year with a record of 10-3-5 and a sixth-place ACC finish.
- The Deacs' best-ever finish came in 2011 when they made the first College Cup in program history with the likes of Katie Stengel leading the line and Aubrey Bledsoe in goal.
- Wake Forest now holds an overall record of 24-21-1 in the tournament, including a 16-2-1 mark in Winston-Salem.
- The Demon Deacons had the first opportunity of the contest as Murphy launched a shot from the edge of the box that just missed wide left in the second minute.
- Wake Forest didn't have to wait long until the opener, however, as Emily Colton fired the Deacs in front with her seventh goal of the season on assists from Murphy and Hanks.
- Emily Morris and Murphy both had attempts within two minutes after the opener as Wake Forest continued to put the pressure on Colorado.
- Hanks had her first shot of the evening blocked by a Colorado defender in the 12th minute.
- The lone Buffalo shot in the first half came in the 14th minute, but it did not find the frame.
- The remainder of the first half saw limited danger from Colorado, as Wake Forest went into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
- The Deacs out-shot the Buffaloes, 6-to-1 (2-to-0 on-goal) over the first 45 minutes.
- Wake Forest once again came out the gates firing, with Emily Colton and Emily Morris firing off shots in the first 50 seconds of the half.
- Swanson drove into the box and forced the Colorado keeper into a save in the 49th minute.
- The visiting keeper was called into action once again a minute later, this time by a hard attempt from Hanks.
- The Deacs had two more half-chances in the 54th minute, with Emily Morris and Hannah Johnson logging Wake Forest's 11th and 12th shots of the night.
- Colton came close to a brace with a good shot that got parried behind for a Wake Forest corner in the 59th minute.
- Wake Forest doubled its advantage following an incredible long shot goal from Emily Morris in the 61st minute.
- It marked her third goal of the season and second in the last three games.
- The Demon Deacons didn't let up, with Sierra Sythe and Caiya Hanks both forcing the keeper into difficult saves in the 67th and 68th minutes, respectively.
- Colorado got a goal back on a free kick in the 74th minute.
- The Buffaloes had another opportunity with just under six minutes remaining, but Amaral came up with a huge save to maintain the lead.
- Murphy sealed the victory with a counter-attack goal in the 88th minute with an assist from Abbie Colton.
- With her strike in the first half, star midfielder Emily Colton has recorded at least one goal contribution in 11 of her last 15 appearances for the Demon Deacons and is second on the team with 22 total points.
- She now has seven goals on the year which ties a career high she set her freshman campaign.
- Additionally, her seven assists this season also set a career high.
- Colton was ranked as the No. 2 player in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer earlier this season.
- With the assist on the opener and the icing-on-the-cake goal, Emily Murphy continued her incredible 10-game stretch, scoring six times and notching five assists during that span.
- It marked her fourth game with multiple goal contributions in her last eight.
- She is second on the team with a career-high eight assists this season and ranks third in the squad with 20 total points.
- Additionally, she has 22 goals and 20 assists for her collegiate career, putting her at 64 points.
- Friday marked her 75th collegiate appearance and 50th start.
- Hanks currently ranks inside the top 10 in program history in points (30), goals (10) and assists (10) for a single season.
- With her assist, she became just the sixth player at the D1 level this season to reach 10 goals and 10 assists, and third to do so in program history, joining Anne Shropshire (1998) and Kaley Fountain (2009).
- Her 30 points this year is also the most for the Deacs since 2011 and her 10 assists are the most since 2009.
- Heading into the weekend, Hanks ranked sixth in the ACC in total points, seventh in goals, and eighth in assists.
- Additionally, her 18 points in conference play ranked second in the ACC and her seven goals were tied for the most.
- Emily Morris tallied her third goal of the season and second in the last three games.
- She now has nine goals for her career in addition to seven assists for 25 points.
- Of note, she is one of four players to have started and played every match so far this year.
- She was named to the ACC All-Tournament team following her equalizer against Florida State in the semifinals.
- Zara Chavoshi, Laurel Ansbrow and Kristin Johnson all went the full 90.
- Sierra Sythe made her 20th-career appearance.
- Nikayla Small earned her 50th-career start.
"I'm so proud of this team. We came out fast, sustained a high level and defended very well. Colorado is a difficult opponent, with talent and grit. We dealt with their long free kicks and long throws incredibly well. Our tempo was sharp, creating good chances with some special goals by Emily Colton, Emily Morris and Emily Murphy. Fun night, now we focus on Sunday!"
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will have a quick turnaround as they prepare to host (3) Ohio State/(6) Auburn on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Spry Stadium. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Team Stats
COL
WFU
Goals
1
3
Shots
11
21
Shots on Goal
5
10
Saves
7
4
Corners
3
7
Fouls
10
6
Scoring Plays
Emily Colton (7)
Assisted By: Emily Murphy , Caiya Hanks
GOAL by WFU Colton, Emily Assist by Murphy, Emily and Hanks, Caiya.
05:10
Emily Morris (3)
GOAL by WFU Morris, Emily.
60:24
Ava Priest (6)
GOAL by COL Priest, Ava.
73:12
Emily Murphy (6)
Assisted By: Abbie Colton
GOAL by WFU Murphy, Emily Assist by Colton, Abbie.
87:43
Game Leaders
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's SoccerMidfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's SoccerForward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
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