Sunday, August 25
Winston-Salem NC
2:00 p.m.
Wake Forest University
3-0-1, 0-0-0
2
vs
1
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Mississippi State
3-1-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Mississippi St.
1
0
1
Wake Forest
1
1
2
Late Winner Powers Demon Deacons Past No. 20 Mississippi State
8/25/2024 5:06:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Nikayla Small’s 85th-minute strike helped Wake Forest earn its first ranked win of 2024.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Picking up its first ranked win of the 2024 campaign, the Wake Forest women's soccer team earned a thrilling, 2-1, victory over No. 20 Mississippi State Sunday afternoon at Spry Stadium.
Wake Forest (3-0-1) took the lead 120 seconds in, as senior Emily Morris had her corner deflected into the path of fellow senior Abbie Colton, who fired it first-time past the keeper for her first-career goal. It was the first goal conceded by Mississippi State (3-1-0) this season.
The tally marked the fastest goal for the Demon Deacons since 2006 and the ninth-fastest in program history. On her senior day, Morris recorded her sixth-career assist and first of the season and brought her career points tally to 18.
Mississippi State equalized right before halftime, but Wake Forest battled in the second half and found the winner courtesy of senior Nikayla Small.
Following yet another corner from Morris, Small found herself on the end of an attempted Bulldog clearance on the edge of the box and rocketed it into the back of the net. It marked her second-career goal and first since her freshman season.
As a team, the Demon Deacons outshot the Bulldogs, 18-to-8 (10-to-4 on-goal) and won 10 corners.
Senior defenders Zara Chavoshi and Laurel Ansbrow went the full 90 and defended well throughout the contest. Senior goalkeeper Payton Cahill improved to 6-1-4 in her career and has still yet to allow multiple goals in a match.
Wake Forest extended its unbeaten stretch at home to 11 games and now holds a 13-2-5 record at home since the start of 2022. Additionally, it was the first ranked win for the Deacs since the 2-0 victory over Virginia last September.
Before the game, Morris, Chavoshi, Olivia Duvall and Kate Dobsch were all honored by Wake Forest women's soccer for all they have given to the program over the last four years.
How It Happened
From Coach da Luz
"Ending a very tough week with a win at home shows that we can push through challenges. MSU was a tough team to play against, and it was a physical game. We played well and pushed for the winning goal late in the game! I'm proud of Nikayla for giving us a massive boost in midfield and smashing the winner! I'm so happy for our seniors, Zara, Emily, Kate and Olivia who were honored on their Senior day!"
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now hit the road for three-consecutive games, starting with a matchup at Richmond on Thursday.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Wake Forest (3-0-1) took the lead 120 seconds in, as senior Emily Morris had her corner deflected into the path of fellow senior Abbie Colton, who fired it first-time past the keeper for her first-career goal. It was the first goal conceded by Mississippi State (3-1-0) this season.
The tally marked the fastest goal for the Demon Deacons since 2006 and the ninth-fastest in program history. On her senior day, Morris recorded her sixth-career assist and first of the season and brought her career points tally to 18.
Mississippi State equalized right before halftime, but Wake Forest battled in the second half and found the winner courtesy of senior Nikayla Small.
Following yet another corner from Morris, Small found herself on the end of an attempted Bulldog clearance on the edge of the box and rocketed it into the back of the net. It marked her second-career goal and first since her freshman season.
As a team, the Demon Deacons outshot the Bulldogs, 18-to-8 (10-to-4 on-goal) and won 10 corners.
Senior defenders Zara Chavoshi and Laurel Ansbrow went the full 90 and defended well throughout the contest. Senior goalkeeper Payton Cahill improved to 6-1-4 in her career and has still yet to allow multiple goals in a match.
Wake Forest extended its unbeaten stretch at home to 11 games and now holds a 13-2-5 record at home since the start of 2022. Additionally, it was the first ranked win for the Deacs since the 2-0 victory over Virginia last September.
Before the game, Morris, Chavoshi, Olivia Duvall and Kate Dobsch were all honored by Wake Forest women's soccer for all they have given to the program over the last four years.
How It Happened
- The Demon Deacons took the lead just two minutes in, as Emily Morris' corner was deflected into the path of Abbie Colton, who fired it first time past the keeper for her first-career goal.
- The goal was scored exactly 120 seconds into the match, tied for the ninth-fastest goal in program history and fastest since 2006.
- It was also the first goal conceded by Mississippi State this season.
- In the 14th minute, Hannah Johnson almost doubled the lead as she forced the Mississippi State goalkeeper into a tough save that went behind for another Wake Forest corner.
- Johnson forced the keeper into yet another save following the corner.
- Five minutes later, Wake Forest had another chance after a beautiful ball from Zara Chavoshi led to a shot from Caiya Hanks that just sailed over the bar.
- There was a pause in play for a hydration break in the 27th minute.
- The Demon Deacons were controlling the contest, outshooting the Bulldogs 7-to-3 (3-to-1 on goal).
- Mississippi equalized against the run of play just before halftime.
- The two sides went into the break level at 1-1.
- Wake Forest held an 11-to-5 shots advantage and controlled 60 percent of the possession during the first 45 minutes.
- It was a physical start to the second half as both teams battled to find a winner, but chances were limited on both sides.
- Hanks almost found the back of the net in the 72nd minute as a deflected shot forced the keeper to make a diving stop and put it behind for Wake Forest's seventh corner of the afternoon.
- With just under six minutes remaining, Nikayla Small found the winner as an attempted Mississippi State clearance fell into her path and she fired it in from the edge of the box with a beautiful finish.
- It marked her second-career goal and first since 2021.
- The Demon Deacons went on to earn their first ranked win of the season, 2-1.
- Abbie Colton's strike in the half was tied for the ninth-fastest goal in program history (120 seconds) and fastest since 2006.
- The goal was the first Colton's career and was the first goal conceded by Mississippi State this season.
- Nikayla Small's winner was the second goal of her career and now has 17-career points.
- It marked the first ranked win for the Deacs since the 2-0 victory over Virginia last campaign.
- Dempsey Brown made her 20th-career start and appearance for Wake Forest.
- On their senior days, Zara Chavoshi earned her 50th-career start and Emily Morris made her 50th-career appearance for the Demon Deacons.
- Morris recorded her sixth-career assist on the opener, bringing her career points tally to 18.
- Caiya Hanks made her 40th-career appearance.
- Hannah Johnson earned her 10th-career start.
- Kristin Johnson made her 60th-career appearance.
- The first active Demon Deacon to reach this mark in a Wake Forest uniform.
- Wake Forest extended its unbeaten stretch at home to 11 games after an undefeated season at Spry last season and now holds a 13-2-5 at home since the start of 2022.
From Coach da Luz
"Ending a very tough week with a win at home shows that we can push through challenges. MSU was a tough team to play against, and it was a physical game. We played well and pushed for the winning goal late in the game! I'm proud of Nikayla for giving us a massive boost in midfield and smashing the winner! I'm so happy for our seniors, Zara, Emily, Kate and Olivia who were honored on their Senior day!"
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now hit the road for three-consecutive games, starting with a matchup at Richmond on Thursday.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
Team Stats
MSU
WFU
Goals
1
2
Shots
8
18
Shots on Goal
4
10
Saves
8
3
Corners
2
10
Fouls
13
12
Scoring Plays
Abbie Colton (1)
Assisted By: Emily Morris
GOAL by WFU Colton, Abbie Assist by Morris, Emily.
02:00
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Kara Harris (1)
Assisted By: Chelsea Wagner
GOAL by MSU Harris, Kara Assist by Wagner, Chelsea.
41:13
Nikayla Small (1)
GOAL by WFU Small, Nikayla.
84:07
Game Leaders
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
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