Friday, November 29
Carson, Calif.
5 p.m.
Wake Forest University
15-3-4, 7-2-1
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USC
18-1-4, 10-0-1
1
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F
Wake Forest
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COLLEGE CUP BOUND: Demon Deacons Defeat USC in Penalty Kicks
11/29/2024 9:02:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Demon Deacons will make their second-ever appearance in the College Cup and first since 2011.
CARSON, Calif. – For the second time in program history and first since 2011, the No. 2-seeded Wake Forest women's soccer team (15-3-4) has advanced to the College Cup following a 4-3 advancement in penalty kicks over No. 1-seed USC (18-1-4) Friday afternoon at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. The two sides ended 110 minutes of action level at 2-2 before senior Kristin Johnson converted on the winning penalty kick.
The Deacs took the lead in the 21st minute of the contest, as a beautifully placed through ball from senior defender Zara Chavoshi found junior Caiya Hanks who buried Wake Forest's first shot of the afternoon into the side netting.
Also with the goal, it marked the first time USC had trailed in the NCAA Tournament and was the first time the Trojans were behind since a 2-1 loss to then-No. 1 Stanford on Sept. 8, a span of 17 matches.
USC would level the match less than two minutes out of the halftime break before taking a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute. Despite the deficit, Wake Forest responded in the 80th minute, as junior Alex Wood one-time a shot from a nicely set up pass from Hanks.
After neither side was able to score in the 20 minutes of overtime action, the Demon Deacons and Trojans went to penalty kicks. Sophomore Valentina Amaral, who finished the evening with six saves, set the tone by stopping USC's first attempt before Johnson slotted home the match-advancing kick.
College Cup Bound
From Coach da Luz
"Just an incredible performance on the road against a very good USC team! Our team never settles and somehow we found a way to work ourselves back in the game. Valentina was incredible the entire game and Caiya came up huge on both goals! I'm so proud of Alex Wood who came off the bench to tie the game! This was a committed team effort now we have a chance to win it all!"
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will return to Cary, N.C., to face No. 3 seeded Stanford in the semifinals of the 2024 College Cup on Friday, Dec. 6.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
The Deacs took the lead in the 21st minute of the contest, as a beautifully placed through ball from senior defender Zara Chavoshi found junior Caiya Hanks who buried Wake Forest's first shot of the afternoon into the side netting.
Also with the goal, it marked the first time USC had trailed in the NCAA Tournament and was the first time the Trojans were behind since a 2-1 loss to then-No. 1 Stanford on Sept. 8, a span of 17 matches.
USC would level the match less than two minutes out of the halftime break before taking a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute. Despite the deficit, Wake Forest responded in the 80th minute, as junior Alex Wood one-time a shot from a nicely set up pass from Hanks.
After neither side was able to score in the 20 minutes of overtime action, the Demon Deacons and Trojans went to penalty kicks. Sophomore Valentina Amaral, who finished the evening with six saves, set the tone by stopping USC's first attempt before Johnson slotted home the match-advancing kick.
College Cup Bound
- Wake Forest advanced to the College Cup for the second time in program history, with the first coming in 2011.
- The Demon Deacons will take on Stanford in the semifinal match next Friday in Cary, N.C.
- It will be a rematch of Wake Forest's first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked team as the Deacs defeated the Cardinal, 1-0, earlier this season at Spry Stadium.
- 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.
- Wake Forest now holds an overall record of 26-21-1 in the tournament.
- With three goals and four assists so far in the NCAA tournament, star forward Caiya Hanks currently ranks inside the top 10 in program history in points (33), goals (11) and assists (11) for a single season.
- Her first-half strike against USC moved her into third in program history in total points (33) and now only trails Katie Stengel's 2010 (37 points) and 2011 (46 points) seasons.
- Hanks also tallied the assist on Alex Woods' 79th-minute strike.
- With her assist in the second round, 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 11 goals this year are the most for the Deacs since 2021 and her 11 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.
- Hanks has also added four game-winning goals this season, which ranks third in the conference.
- The Trojans logged the first shot of the afternoon in the fourth minute, as a second ball off a free kick found the foot of a USC player but a fantastic individual effort from Valentina Amaral kept the match scoreless.
- Five minutes later, Amaral corralled an in-swinging attempt from USC.
- Wake Forest took a 1-0 lead on its first shot attempt of the afternoon in the 22nd minute, as Caiya Hanks capped off a run through the middle of the USC backline to bury her attempt into the top of the side netting.
- The tally marked Hanks' team-high 11th goal of the season as Zara Chavoshi collected her second assist of the season (vs. Virginia on Sept. 15).
- Hanks' 11 goals are tied for the seventh-most in a single season alongside Shayla Smart (2021), Riley Ridgik (2013), Kaley Fountain (2009) and Anne Shropshire (1998).
- Additionally, Hanks' 32 points this season are tied for the third-most by a Deac in a single season with Jill Hutchinson (2009), Kaley Fountain (2009) and Anne Shropshire (1998).
- This also marked the first time in the NCAA Tournament that USC has trailed.
- After entering the match in the 28th minute, Anna Swanson registered her first shot of the match in the 39th minute.
- The Trojians applied pressure on the Deacs late in the first half, but Wake Forest held USC without a shot in the last 28 minutes of action in the opening frame.
- USC would level the match at 1-1 in the 47th minute.
- Amaral made a save right at the line in the 51st minute, standing her ground to prevent USC from taking a 2-1 lead.
- The Trojans would, however, take the lead in the 59th minute, marking the first time in the NCAA Tournament Wake Forest would trail in a match.
- Amaral once again came up with a strong individual effort, sprawling out to stop a 73rd-minute attempt by the Trojans at the top of the six-yard box.
- One minute later, captain Laurel Ansbrow blocked a USC shot.
- The Deacs remained resilient and equalized in the 80th minute, as Alex Wood slotted home a pass from the touchline from Hanks.
- The goal was the California native's second of the season (vs. Villanova on Sept. 8).
- With a goal and assist, Hanks' three point outing moved her into third all-time in points for a single season, trailing only Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famer Katie Stengel's 46 points in 2011 and 37 points in 2010.
- Chavoshi saved a potential game-winning goal by USC in the 89th minute, sliding to extend her body in front of a Trojan attempt.
- The match would head to overtime, as the two sides were knotted at 2-2 after 90 minutes.
- The Deacs and Trojans went into a second overtime period, as neither recorded a shot attempt in the first 10 minutes of extra time.
- Amaral recorded her fifth save of the contest, coming off her line to stop a 101st minute shot.
- Emily Murphy created an individual opportunity in the 107th minute, opening up space for a 107th-minute shot that was saved near-post.
- Without a goal from either side, the match would head to penalty kicks.
- USC stepped to the spot first, as Amaral stopped the attempt. Murphy connected on Wake Forest's first attempt.
- In the second round, the Trojans converted as would Malaika Menna as the Deacs went ahead 2-1.
- USC's third attempt clanked off the woodwork but Amaral's shot was off-target. Wake Forest remained up 2-1.
- The Trojans would make their fourth attempt, as would Sierra Sythe to extend the Wake Forest advance to 3-2.
- Kristin Johnson would bury her attempt as Wake Forest would win PKs 4-3 and head to the 2024 College Cup.
- With the equalizer, Alex Wood scored her 10th-career goal and her second of the season.
- It marked her first goal since the winner at Villanova on Sept. 5.
- Zara Chavoshi logged the assist on Hanks' opener with a brilliant long ball, her second assist of the season and fourth of her career.
- The hero in extra time and penalty kicks, Valentina Amaral logged a career-high six saves, including a huge stop in the second half of extra time.
- She is now 10-2-3 in starts for her career.
From Coach da Luz
"Just an incredible performance on the road against a very good USC team! Our team never settles and somehow we found a way to work ourselves back in the game. Valentina was incredible the entire game and Caiya came up huge on both goals! I'm so proud of Alex Wood who came off the bench to tie the game! This was a committed team effort now we have a chance to win it all!"
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will return to Cary, N.C., to face No. 3 seeded Stanford in the semifinals of the 2024 College Cup on Friday, Dec. 6.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Team Stats
WFU
USC
Goals
2
2
Shots
7
19
Shots on Goal
4
8
Saves
6
2
Corners
4
4
Fouls
14
10
Scoring Plays
Caiya Hanks (11)
Assisted By: Zara Chavoshi
GOAL by WFU Hanks, Caiya Assist by Chavoshi, Zara.
21:31
Simone Jackson (6)
Assisted By: Ines Derrien , Maribel Flores
GOAL by USC Jackson, Simone Assist by Derrien, Ines and Flores, Maribel.
46:23
Kayla Colbert (6)
Assisted By: BK Harris
GOAL by USC Colbert, Kayla Assist by Harris, BK.
58:03
Alex Wood (2)
Assisted By: Caiya Hanks
GOAL by WFU Wood, Alex Assist by Hanks, Caiya.
79:48
Game Leaders
fwd
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's SoccerForward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
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