Wake Forest Brings In No. 17-Ranked Recruiting Class
8/14/2024 11:52:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The Demon Deacons added six players to an experienced core for the 2024 campaign.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Highlighted by a pair of veteran transfers and four highly-touted freshmen, the Wake Forest women's soccer team finished with the No. 17-ranked recruiting class nationally and seventh-best in the ACC according to TopDrawerSoccer, as announced by the company Wednesday morning.
The Demon Deacons will open play Thursday evening on the road against Army West Point. The match is slated for 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Emily Colton (North Carolina)
Joins her sister, Abbie, on the Wake Forest women's soccer team after three successful seasons with the Tar Heels. She started all 67 possible games over the last three seasons and has been stellar in the midfield. She finished 2023 with two goals and one assist. In 2022, she ranked fourth on the team and 13th in the ACC in total assists (6), including three in a single game against Baylor. She was named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2021 after leading the Tar Heels in goals (7) and finished second on the team in total points (15). She was called up to join the U.S. Under-20 Women's Youth National Team to compete in the Concacaf Women's Championship and the four-team Sud Ladies Cup in 2022. Colton was one of four Americans named to the Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship Best XI Team, leading the USA in assists in the tournament with five and helped the US win its seventh Concacaf U20 title and earn a spot in the Women's U20 World Cup.
Paige Nurkin (Columbia)
In 2023 for Columbia, Nurkin started 18 games and allowed just 13 goals all season for a 0.75 goals against average. She totaled 61 saves for an 82.4 save percentage and finished the season with a 10-5-3 record including seven shutouts. Her performances saw her named First Team All-Ivy League and Academic All-Ivy. She played a major role in helping Columbia lead the nation in goals against average, save percentage and shutout percentage at points during the season. Nurkin tallied four saves to help lead Columbia past Rutgers for the first NCAA Tournament win in program history.
Chloe Burst (Mount Carmel Academy)
Burst played on varsity as an eighth grader at Mount Carmel Academy and was named to the All-State First Team. The following year as a freshman, she won the Louisiana High School State Championship and was named MVP while once again earning All-State First Team. She played for 2007 TDPElite Boys and 2006 ECNL Girls from 2021-23 and was invited to USYNT ID Camps in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She comes in as the No. 58-ranked recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.
Amaya Dawkins (Wylie East)
As a midfielder for Wylie East, Dawkins was named District MVP in back-to-back seasons in 2022-23 and 2023-24, as well as named to the Texas All-State First Team. She was also named District Midfielder of the Year during her freshman and sophomore campaigns. In 2022-23, she earned Texas All-State Tournament Team Honors. For FC Dallas she was tabbed ECNL Texas First Team All-Conference in 2020-21 and Second Team in 2021-22. She joins Wake Forest as the No. 80-ranked recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.
Lola Ressler (Montverde Academy)
Ressler was a 2024 Florida Class 3A State Champion and earned State Championship MVP Honors before coming to Wake Forest. She was named to the 2024 All-Area First Team and tabbed ECNL Southeast All Conference First Team honors twice. Ressler also garnered Southeast All-Conference First Team honors. She comes to Winston-Salem as a top-200 recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.
Josie Noble (New Trier)
For New Trier Township High School, Noble was named Central Suburban League All-Conference twice and earned Illinois All-State honors. She was a three-time Illinois State Champion, Central Suburban League Offensive Player of the Year and Naperville Invitational MVP. Noble played club for Eclipse Select SC.
The Demon Deacons will open play Thursday evening on the road against Army West Point. The match is slated for 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Emily Colton (North Carolina)
Joins her sister, Abbie, on the Wake Forest women's soccer team after three successful seasons with the Tar Heels. She started all 67 possible games over the last three seasons and has been stellar in the midfield. She finished 2023 with two goals and one assist. In 2022, she ranked fourth on the team and 13th in the ACC in total assists (6), including three in a single game against Baylor. She was named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2021 after leading the Tar Heels in goals (7) and finished second on the team in total points (15). She was called up to join the U.S. Under-20 Women's Youth National Team to compete in the Concacaf Women's Championship and the four-team Sud Ladies Cup in 2022. Colton was one of four Americans named to the Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship Best XI Team, leading the USA in assists in the tournament with five and helped the US win its seventh Concacaf U20 title and earn a spot in the Women's U20 World Cup.
Paige Nurkin (Columbia)
In 2023 for Columbia, Nurkin started 18 games and allowed just 13 goals all season for a 0.75 goals against average. She totaled 61 saves for an 82.4 save percentage and finished the season with a 10-5-3 record including seven shutouts. Her performances saw her named First Team All-Ivy League and Academic All-Ivy. She played a major role in helping Columbia lead the nation in goals against average, save percentage and shutout percentage at points during the season. Nurkin tallied four saves to help lead Columbia past Rutgers for the first NCAA Tournament win in program history.
Chloe Burst (Mount Carmel Academy)
Burst played on varsity as an eighth grader at Mount Carmel Academy and was named to the All-State First Team. The following year as a freshman, she won the Louisiana High School State Championship and was named MVP while once again earning All-State First Team. She played for 2007 TDPElite Boys and 2006 ECNL Girls from 2021-23 and was invited to USYNT ID Camps in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She comes in as the No. 58-ranked recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.
Amaya Dawkins (Wylie East)
As a midfielder for Wylie East, Dawkins was named District MVP in back-to-back seasons in 2022-23 and 2023-24, as well as named to the Texas All-State First Team. She was also named District Midfielder of the Year during her freshman and sophomore campaigns. In 2022-23, she earned Texas All-State Tournament Team Honors. For FC Dallas she was tabbed ECNL Texas First Team All-Conference in 2020-21 and Second Team in 2021-22. She joins Wake Forest as the No. 80-ranked recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.
Lola Ressler (Montverde Academy)
Ressler was a 2024 Florida Class 3A State Champion and earned State Championship MVP Honors before coming to Wake Forest. She was named to the 2024 All-Area First Team and tabbed ECNL Southeast All Conference First Team honors twice. Ressler also garnered Southeast All-Conference First Team honors. She comes to Winston-Salem as a top-200 recruit by TopDrawerSoccer.
Josie Noble (New Trier)
For New Trier Township High School, Noble was named Central Suburban League All-Conference twice and earned Illinois All-State honors. She was a three-time Illinois State Champion, Central Suburban League Offensive Player of the Year and Naperville Invitational MVP. Noble played club for Eclipse Select SC.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
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