Thursday, September 5
Villanova, PA
4:00 p.m.
Wake Forest University
4-1-1, 0-0-0
1
at
0
Villanova
3-3-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Wake Forest
0
1
1
Villanova
0
0
0
Alex Wood’s 84th-Minute Winner Lifts Demon Deacons Past Villanova
9/5/2024 7:25:00 PM | Women's Soccer
It marked Wood’s first goal of the season and ninth of her career.
VILLANOVA, Pa. – Using a late winner courtesy of junior forward Alex Wood, the Wake Forest women's soccer team picked up a 1-0 road victory over Villanova Thursday afternoon at the Higgins Soccer Complex.
The lone goal of the contest came in the 84th minute, as senior midfielder Emily Colton used great skill to drive into the box from the right and played it to Wood, who buried it for her first tally since Sept. 7 of last year against Rhode Island.
Additionally, it marked the first goal contribution for Colton in a Wake Forest uniform and eighth overall assist in her collegiate career. The senior has been stellar for the Demon Deacons so far this year and is one of four Wake Forest players to have started all six games.
Wake Forest (4-1-1) dominated throughout the match as it controlled 63 percent of the ball and out-shot Villanova, 29-2 and 10-0 on-goal. The Demon Deacons have held a larger share of possession in all six matches so far to open the season.
For the third-consecutive match and for the fifth time this season, senior defenders Zara Chavoshi and Laurel Ansbrow went the full 90 minutes en route to Wake Forest's third clean sheet of the campaign.
Ansbrow, along with junior forward Caiya Hanks, both earned their 40th-career starts for Wake Forest. Additionally, junior defender Allie Schmidt earned her first start since Sept. 3 of last year against Iona.
In goal, senior goalkeeper Payton Cahill improved to 7-2-4 for her career and picked up her sixth-career clean sheet.
How It Happened
"Great road win today! Villanova was well organized defensively and showed a lot of grit. We were clean and sharp on the ball throughout the game creating loads of chances. Our presence eventually paid off when Emily Colton dribbled past a couple opponents and crossed to Alex Wood who finished it without hesitation! We had strong contributions from the entire team today and we were provided attack from everyone on the field!"
Up Next
Wake Forest will now return home for its final non-conference match of the regular season as it takes on UNC Asheville on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
The lone goal of the contest came in the 84th minute, as senior midfielder Emily Colton used great skill to drive into the box from the right and played it to Wood, who buried it for her first tally since Sept. 7 of last year against Rhode Island.
Additionally, it marked the first goal contribution for Colton in a Wake Forest uniform and eighth overall assist in her collegiate career. The senior has been stellar for the Demon Deacons so far this year and is one of four Wake Forest players to have started all six games.
Wake Forest (4-1-1) dominated throughout the match as it controlled 63 percent of the ball and out-shot Villanova, 29-2 and 10-0 on-goal. The Demon Deacons have held a larger share of possession in all six matches so far to open the season.
For the third-consecutive match and for the fifth time this season, senior defenders Zara Chavoshi and Laurel Ansbrow went the full 90 minutes en route to Wake Forest's third clean sheet of the campaign.
Ansbrow, along with junior forward Caiya Hanks, both earned their 40th-career starts for Wake Forest. Additionally, junior defender Allie Schmidt earned her first start since Sept. 3 of last year against Iona.
In goal, senior goalkeeper Payton Cahill improved to 7-2-4 for her career and picked up her sixth-career clean sheet.
How It Happened
- Abbie Cotlon fired the first shot of the afternoon in the eighth minute from just outside the box.
- Great team build-up led to shots from Emily Colton and Nikayla Small in the ninth and 10th minutes, respectively, but both were blocked by Villanova defenders.
- The Demon Deacons kept the pressure up for the entirety of the first half and dominated possession.
- In the 21st minute, Emily Murphy called the Wildcat goalkeeper into action for the first time as she cut inside on her right foot after a great run and launched it to the top-center of the net, which was tipped behind for a corner.
- Murphy recorded another shot-on-goal five minutes later as she forced the keeper into a diving save.
- Wake Forest controlled 63 percent of the ball in the first half and out-shot the Wildcats 11-to-2 (3-to-0 on-goal).
- Individually, Emily Colton and Murphy led the team with two shots apiece.
- The Demon Deacons came out firing in the second half, with Hannah Johnson nearly giving Wake Forest the lead after a great bit of pressing forced the opponents into a mistake at the back.
- In the 50th minute, Anna Swanson also came close to the opener, as she forced the keeper into a tough save from distance.
- 10 minutes later, Zara Chavoshi fired a free kick which was put behind for a Wake Forest corner.
- Between minutes 63-75, the Demon Deacons continued to push and got off 10 shots and hardly let Villanova see the ball.
- With six minutes remaining, Emily Colton drove into the box and laid it off to Alex Wood, who fired it into the back of the net for her first goal of the season.
- The Demon Deacons saw out the rest of the match and went back to Winston-Salem with a 1-0 victory.
- The winner marked the ninth goal of Alex Wood's career and first since Sept. 7, 2023 against Rhode Island
- Emily Colton recorded her first goal contribution for Wake Forest as she picked up the assist on her winner.
- Additionally, it was her first assist since the 2022 National Championship match against UCLA on Dec. 5.
- Wake Forest has seen eight different goal scorers over the first six games of the season with 13 separate Deacs recording at least one goal contribution.
- Caiya Hanks and Laurel Ansbrow both earned their 40th-career starts against the Wildcats.
- They became the sixth and seventh active Demon Deacons to reach this mark.
- Wake Forest has out-possessed and out-shot every opponent so far this season.
"Great road win today! Villanova was well organized defensively and showed a lot of grit. We were clean and sharp on the ball throughout the game creating loads of chances. Our presence eventually paid off when Emily Colton dribbled past a couple opponents and crossed to Alex Wood who finished it without hesitation! We had strong contributions from the entire team today and we were provided attack from everyone on the field!"
Up Next
Wake Forest will now return home for its final non-conference match of the regular season as it takes on UNC Asheville on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 2 p.m.
Follow The Deacs
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | #GoDeacs
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
WAKE
NOVA
Goals
1
0
Shots
29
2
Shots on Goal
11
0
Saves
0
10
Corners
9
1
Fouls
10
3
Scoring Plays
Alex Wood (1)
Assisted By: Emily Colton
GOAL by WAKE Wood, Alex Assist by Colton, Emily.
83:59
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
8
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's SoccerMidfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Matt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10
Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
Wednesday, September 10
Football Media Availability (9/9/25)
Wednesday, September 10
Wake Forest Football vs Western Carolina | Cinematic Recap
Tuesday, September 09