Thursday, October 23
Winston-Salem, N.C.
7 p.m.
Wake Forest University
10-3-3, 4-2-2
2
vs
1
Pitt
5-9-2, 1-7-0
1
2
F
Pittsburgh
0
1
1
Wake Forest
2
0
2
Photo by: Bryce Mitchell / Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Keeps Unbeaten Mark at Home with 2-1 Win Over Pitt
10/23/2025 10:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Goals from seniors Alex Wood and Laine DeNatale in the first half propelled the Deacs to their fourth ACC win of the season.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The Wake Forest women's soccer team (10-3-3, 4-2-2 ACC) remained unbeaten at home after a 2-1 victory over the Pitt Panthers (5-9-2, 1-7-0 ACC) Thursday night at Spry Stadium.
With tonight's result, the Demon Deacons are now 4-2-2 in conference play and sit ninth in the ACC with 14 points, just one point behind Duke in sixth for the final spot in the conference tournament with two matches left to play.
Alex Wood opened the scoring on her senior night in the 17th minute for her second of the year. The goal came after a great run down the right wing from freshman Allie Flanagan before she cut it back for Wood, who finished with ease in front of the goal.
It marked the first assist of Flanagan's career as she now sits on 11 points this season with five goals.
The Wake Forest lead was doubled in the 25th minute by senior defender Laine DeNatale with a beautiful strike from the edge of the box following a well drawn-up set piece. It was the first goal of DeNatale's career in her 28th appearance.
The Panthers would get a goal back in the 76th minute, but Wake Forest would limit the danger over the final 14 minutes and hold on for the win. The Demon Deacons remain unbeaten this season when leading at the break.
In goal, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Valentina Amaral surpassed 100 career saves with three on the night and is now 22-6-6 in starts for her career.
Of note, Wake Forest has now reached double-digit wins for the third-consecutive season.
With the assist on DeNatale's strike, Sythe brought her season assist total to nine and is sixth in program history for single-season assists. She is also tied for second in the ACC and is just two behind the leader Jordynn Dudley (Florida State).
Most Assists in a Single Season
Breast Cancer Awareness Match
The Deacs wore special pink jerseys that are being auctioned off with all proceeds raised benefiting the Cancer Health Equity Patient Care fund at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Bidding is open now and will run until midnight tonight.
How It Happened
Demon Deacon Details of Note
The Demon Deacons return to Spry this Sunday for their final home match of the season against the No.1-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The contest will be streamed on ACCNX with kickoff at 2 pm.
With tonight's result, the Demon Deacons are now 4-2-2 in conference play and sit ninth in the ACC with 14 points, just one point behind Duke in sixth for the final spot in the conference tournament with two matches left to play.
Alex Wood opened the scoring on her senior night in the 17th minute for her second of the year. The goal came after a great run down the right wing from freshman Allie Flanagan before she cut it back for Wood, who finished with ease in front of the goal.
It marked the first assist of Flanagan's career as she now sits on 11 points this season with five goals.
The Wake Forest lead was doubled in the 25th minute by senior defender Laine DeNatale with a beautiful strike from the edge of the box following a well drawn-up set piece. It was the first goal of DeNatale's career in her 28th appearance.
The Panthers would get a goal back in the 76th minute, but Wake Forest would limit the danger over the final 14 minutes and hold on for the win. The Demon Deacons remain unbeaten this season when leading at the break.
In goal, redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Valentina Amaral surpassed 100 career saves with three on the night and is now 22-6-6 in starts for her career.
Of note, Wake Forest has now reached double-digit wins for the third-consecutive season.
With the assist on DeNatale's strike, Sythe brought her season assist total to nine and is sixth in program history for single-season assists. She is also tied for second in the ACC and is just two behind the leader Jordynn Dudley (Florida State).
Most Assists in a Single Season
| Rank | Team | Total Assists | Year |
| 1. | Caiya Hanks | 12 | 2024 |
| 2. | Elizabeth Remy | 11 | 2005 |
| T3. | Anna Shropshire | 10 | 1998 |
| T3. | Stefanie Matthews | 10 | 1998 |
| T3. | Kaley Fountain | 10 | 2009 |
| 6. | Sierra Sythe | 9 | 2025 |
| T7. | Emily Murphy | 8 | 2024 |
| T7. | Katie Stengel | 8 | 2011 |
| T7. | Katie Stengel | 8 | 2013 |
| T7. | Kristen Meier | 8 | 2011 |
| T7. | Lindsey Griffin | 8 | 1999 |
| 10. | 17 athletes tied at 17 | 7 | – |
Breast Cancer Awareness Match
The Deacs wore special pink jerseys that are being auctioned off with all proceeds raised benefiting the Cancer Health Equity Patient Care fund at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Bidding is open now and will run until midnight tonight.
How It Happened
- Wake Forest got off on the front foot in the opening stages of the match, peppering the Pitt keeper with early opportunities.
- Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Valentina Amaral tipped a Pitt opportunity high to keep the match even.
- Senior forward Alex Wood sent the ball wide of the net to record the first on-target attempt of the night in the 13th minute.
- Less than 30 seconds later, freshman forward Kylie Maxwell tagged one of her own.
- In the 17th minute, junior defender Dempsey Brown made a lunging save inside the box off a Pitt corner to keep the Panthers scoreless.
- Wood netted the opener in the 17th minute to give Wake Forest the 1-0 advantage.
- Freshman forward Allie Flanagan drove up the right side and connected with Wood at the top of the box.
- The goal was Wood's second of the season and 12th of her career.
- Additionally, Flanagan's assist marked the first of her career.
- Senior defender Laine DeNatale converted a free kick opportunity in the 25th minute to double Wake Forest's lead.
- The strike marked the first of her career.
- Redshirt-sophomore Sierra Sythe grabbed an assist on the goal, her ninth of the season.
- Wake Forest entered the locker room with a 2-0 lead and maintained 60 percent possession throughout the first half.
- The Deacs' defense continued to excel out of the break and held the Panthers to just one shot through the first twenty minutes of the half.
- Sythe made a key block in the 68th minute to force a Pitt corner.
- The Panthers cut the Demon Deacons' lead in half in the 76th minute.
- Amaral came up with a clutch save in the 90th minute to secure the three points.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
- Amaral surpassed 100 career saves.
- Flanagan recorded her first career assist in the 17th minute.
- DeNatale recorded her first career goal in the 25th minute.
- Senior forward Brooke Miller made her 40th career start.
- Sophomore midfielder Lola Ressler made her 10th career start.
- Dempsey Brown went the full 90 for the 10th time this season.
The Demon Deacons return to Spry this Sunday for their final home match of the season against the No.1-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The contest will be streamed on ACCNX with kickoff at 2 pm.
Team Stats
PIT
WFU
Goals
1
2
Shots
14
7
Shots on Goal
4
4
Saves
2
3
Corners
8
5
Fouls
9
6
Scoring Plays
Alex Wood (2)
Assisted By: Allie Flanagan
GOAL by WFU Wood, Alex Assist by Flanagan, Allie.
16:55
Laine DeNatale (1)
Assisted By: Sierra Sythe
GOAL by WFU DeNatale, Laine Assist by Sythe, Sierra.
24:15
Mya Archibald (1)
Assisted By: Margaret Wilde
GOAL by PIT Archibald, Mya Assist by Wilde, Margaret.
75:25
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's SoccerForward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's SoccerDefender
/ Women's Soccer
Wake Forest Head Football Coach Jake Dickert Weekly Press Conference (10/27/2025)
Monday, October 27
Wake Forest Defensive Back Davaughn Patterson Postgame vs. SMU (Oct. 25, 2025)
Saturday, October 25
Wake Forest Wide Receiver Chris Barnes Postgame Press Conference vs. SMU (Oct. 25, 2025)
Saturday, October 25
Wake Forest Kicker Connor Calvert Postgame Press Conference vs. SMU (Oct. 25, 2025)
Saturday, October 25