Thursday, September 12
Chapel Hill, NC
7:00 p.m.

Wake Forest University

5-2-1, 0-1-0

0
at
1

North Carolina

8-1-0, 1-0-0

1
2
F
Wake Forest
0
0
0
North Carolina
1
0
1
UNC Recap

Wake Forest Falls at No. 10 North Carolina in ACC Opener

9/12/2024 9:36:00 PM | Women's Soccer

The Demon Deacons will return to action Sunday at Virginia.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Despite controlling a majority of the ball and limiting the opponents to their fewest amount of shots in over eight years, the Wake Forest women's soccer team dropped the conference opener to No. 10 North Carolina, 1-0, Thursday evening at Dorrance Field.

The Demon Deacons (5-2-1, 0-1-0 ACC) looked the better side for a majority of the contest. They generated multiple chances over the first 25 minutes and registered the first five shots of the contest before the Tar Heels (8-1-0, 1-0-0 ACC) scored the lone goal of the evening in the 27th minute.

The Deacs held 57 percent of the possession Thursday night and out-shot the Tar Heels, 9-to-3.

Wake Forest has now out-possessed and out-shot every opponent so far this season over the first eight matches. Coming into Thursday, Wake Forest ranked eighth in the nation and third in the conference in shots per game with 22.4. 

This marked the first time since at least 2015 that the Tar Heels attempted fewer than four shots in a match.

The Deacs also won three corners on the night without conceding one on the other end.

Senior Emily Colton, who returned to Dorrance Field for the first time since transferring to Wake Forest, was dangerous once again for the Demon Deacons as she came close multiple times to finding an opener. 

Four Demon Deacons went the full 90, including senior defenders Laurel Ansbrow and Zara Chavoshi, who defended well throughout the match and limited North Carolina's chances.

Redshirt freshman Valentina Amaral made her first start of the season in goal and first in over a year.

How It Happened
  • One minute into the contest, Sierra Sythe registered the first shot of the evening as she dragged an attempt just wide from a tough angle.
  • Emily Colton came close to the opener against her former side as she struck the crossbar from distance in the fourth minute.
  • Three minutes later, Colton fired another shot that was blocked behind for the first corner of the match.
  • Wake Forest controlled the contest over the first 20 minutes, as it recorded the first five shots of the contest.
  • Against the run of play, North Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute.
  • The Deacs made their first change of the night in the 29th minute as Hannah Johnson came on for Nikayla Small.
  • Wake Forest continued to dominate the ball and the chances for the remainder of the second half, but went into the break facing a 1-0 deficit.
    • The Demon Deacons controlled 60 percent of the possession over the first 45 minutes and out-shot the Tar Heels, 6-to-1, and won three corners to zero.
  • Anna Swanson and Kristin Johnson entered the match out of the halftime break.
  • In the 49th minute, Wake Forest won a free kick in a dangerous area right outside the box, which Chavoshi nearly found an equalizer off of but fired it just high with the first shot of the second half.
  • Valentina Amaral registered her first save of the evening with a strong hand in the 65th minute.
  • Alex Wood entered the contest for the first time in 67th minute, along with re-entries for Nikayla Small and Abbie Colton.
  • Despite coming close to finding a late equalizer on multiple occasions, the Demon Deacons inevitably fell to the Tar Heels, 1-0.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
  • Valentina Amaral made her first start of the season.
  • Emily Colton made her 75th-collegiate appearance.
  • Emily Morris made her 40th-career start.
  • Anna Swanson made her 30th-career appearance.
  • Wake Forest has out-possessed and out-shot every opponent so far this season.
    • Coming into Thursday, Wake Forest ranked eighth in the nation and third in the conference in shots per game.
  • North Carolina only logged three shots Thursday night, the fewest in a match since at least 2015.
    • Additionally, this was the first time this season the Tar Heels were out-possesed.
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now prepare for another tough top-10 matchup as they take on No. 2 Virginia in Charlottesville on Sunday, Sept. 15. The match is slated for noon and will be shown on ACC Network.

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Team Stats

WFU
UNC
Goals
0
1
Shots
9
3
Shots on Goal
2
2
Saves
1
2
Corners
3
0
Fouls
12
11
Scoring Plays
Logo

Kate Faasse (6)

Assisted By: Makenna Dominguez

GOAL by UNC Faasse, Kate Assist by Dominguez, Makenna.

26:11

Game Leaders

Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0

Players Mentioned

Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
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