Friday, November 14
6 p.m.
Wake Forest University
11-4-4, 4-3-3
2
vs
1
South Carolina
10-5-5, 4-2-4
1
2
F
South Carolina
0
1
1
Wake Forest
1
1
2
No. 7-Seed Wake Forest Downs South Carolina, Advances to Second Round of NCAA Tournament
11/14/2025 9:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The Deacs will take on No. 2-seed Michigan State in East Lansing next Thursday.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The Wake Forest women's soccer team (11-4-4, 4-3-3 ACC) defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first round of the NCAA tournament (10-5-5, 4-2-4 SEC) Friday night at Spry Stadium.
The Demon Deacons advanced to the round of 32 for the 16th time in program history and for the third time in the last five years. The Deacs now hold an overall record of 27-22-2 in the tournament, including an 18-2-1 mark in Winston-Salem.
The Deacs are a stellar 23-1-8 at home over the last three seasons, with a 9-0-3 mark in 2025.
Wake Forest will head to East Lansing, Mich. for a second-round matchup against No. 2-seed Michigan State on Thursday, Nov. 20. With a win, the third-round match will also be hosted in East Lansing on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Freshman forward Kylie Maxwell netted the Deacs' first of the night after a goalmouth scramble following a corner from redshirt sophomore Sierra Sythe.
The ACC Freshman of the Year now has a team-high six goals in addition to five assists for 17 points. Of note, freshmen have accounted for 14 of the Deacs' 32 goals this campaign (44 percent).
The second goal of the night was similar to the first, with Sammi Wiemann poking it in 15 minutes into the second half for her first-career goal in a crucial moment. She became the 13th different Wake Forest player to find the back of the net this campaign.
South Carolina got one back four minutes later, but the Demon Deacons defended well over the final half-hour and saw out the victory.
The entire starting backline of Sythe, Wiemann, Brooke Miller and Tahlia Zadeyan went the full 90 as well as midfielder Carly Wilson and forward Allie Flanagan.
In goal, Valentina Amaral recorded three saves to reach 120 for her career. The standout is now 23-7-7 in starts, including 11 wins in back-to-back seasons.
How It Happened
Demon Deacon Details to Note
From Coach da Luz:
"I'm incredibly proud of our team. We used our 10-day break wisely, recovered physically and prepared well for a very good South Carolina team. This is the first postseason game for this team and I thought our competition level was outstanding. We gained great experience from this knockout situation and look forward to the next challenge at Michigan State."
Up Next
Wake Forest will face No. 2-seed Michigan State on Thursday, Nov. 20 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Demon Deacons advanced to the round of 32 for the 16th time in program history and for the third time in the last five years. The Deacs now hold an overall record of 27-22-2 in the tournament, including an 18-2-1 mark in Winston-Salem.
The Deacs are a stellar 23-1-8 at home over the last three seasons, with a 9-0-3 mark in 2025.
Wake Forest will head to East Lansing, Mich. for a second-round matchup against No. 2-seed Michigan State on Thursday, Nov. 20. With a win, the third-round match will also be hosted in East Lansing on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Freshman forward Kylie Maxwell netted the Deacs' first of the night after a goalmouth scramble following a corner from redshirt sophomore Sierra Sythe.
The ACC Freshman of the Year now has a team-high six goals in addition to five assists for 17 points. Of note, freshmen have accounted for 14 of the Deacs' 32 goals this campaign (44 percent).
The second goal of the night was similar to the first, with Sammi Wiemann poking it in 15 minutes into the second half for her first-career goal in a crucial moment. She became the 13th different Wake Forest player to find the back of the net this campaign.
South Carolina got one back four minutes later, but the Demon Deacons defended well over the final half-hour and saw out the victory.
The entire starting backline of Sythe, Wiemann, Brooke Miller and Tahlia Zadeyan went the full 90 as well as midfielder Carly Wilson and forward Allie Flanagan.
In goal, Valentina Amaral recorded three saves to reach 120 for her career. The standout is now 23-7-7 in starts, including 11 wins in back-to-back seasons.
How It Happened
- Wake Forest pressured South Carolina into their zone in the opening stages of the match.
- Senior forward Alex Wood tagged the Deacs' first on-target attempt of the night in the 7th minute.
- Freshman forward Kylie Maxwell gave the Deacs the lead in the 15th minute.
- The ACC Freshman of the Year cut through chaos in front of the net to tap the ball in for her sixth of the year.
- In the 17th minute, freshman forward Allie Flanagan launched a shot but the Gamecock keeper was there for the save.
- Redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper Valentina Amaral dove wide to grab her first save of the night in the 24th minute.
- Amaral deflected the ball off her foot to collect her second save in the 28th minute and keep the Demon Deacons in the lead.
- Senior forward Brooke Miller had an incredible opportunity on the right side of the box in the 44th minute but sent the ball just wide of the net.
- Wake Forest entered the break with a 1-0 lead, with both teams tied at three shots apiece.
- Both squads battled hard out of the half, each recording just one shot in the first 15 minutes of the second.
- Off a corner set up by redshirt-sophomore Sierra Sythe, junior defender Sammi Wiemann found space in front and netted the ball to put the Deacs up 2-0 in the 60th minute.
- South Carolina cut the deficit in half in the 64th minute.
- In the 78th minute, the Deacs peppered the Gamecock keeper with five shot attempts in thirty seconds to keep pressure on the South Carolina defense.
- Wake Forest defeated South Carolina, 2-1 to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Demon Deacon Details to Note
- Wake Forest advanced to the round of 32 for the 16th time in program history and for the third time in the last five years.
- The Demon Deacons advanced to the round of 32 for the 16th time in program history and for the third time in the last five years. The Deacs now hold an overall record of 27-22-2 in the tournament, including an 18-2-1 mark in Winston-Salem.
- The Deacs featured a varied roster of goal contributors with 13 different players and four freshmen supplying the Deacs' offense. Of note, freshmen have accounted for 14 of the Deacs' 32 goals this campaign (44 percent).
- The Demon Deacons have three players with double-digit points and four players with five or more so far in 2025.
- Kylie Maxwell - 17 points (6 goals, 5 assists)
- Sierra Sythe - 15 points (3 goals, 9 assists)
- Allie Flanagan - 11 points (5 goals, 1 assist)
- Lola Ressler - 9 points (4 goals, 1 assist)
- Brooke Miller - 7 points (1 goal, 5 assists)
- Hannah Johnson - 5 points (2 goals, 1 assist)
- Alex Wood - 5 points (2 goals, 1 assist)
- Allie Flanagan made her 15th career start and went the full 90 for the first time in her career.
From Coach da Luz:
"I'm incredibly proud of our team. We used our 10-day break wisely, recovered physically and prepared well for a very good South Carolina team. This is the first postseason game for this team and I thought our competition level was outstanding. We gained great experience from this knockout situation and look forward to the next challenge at Michigan State."
Up Next
Wake Forest will face No. 2-seed Michigan State on Thursday, Nov. 20 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Team Stats
USC
WFU
Goals
1
2
Shots
12
14
Shots on Goal
4
4
Saves
2
3
Corners
4
4
Fouls
11
12
Scoring Plays
Kylie Maxwell (6)
GOAL by WFU Maxwell, Kylie.
14:29
Sammi Wiemann (1)
GOAL by WFU Wiemann, Sammi.
59:26
Cuyler Zulauf (6)
Assisted By: Katie Shea Collins
GOAL by USC Zulauf, Cuyler Assist by Collins, Katie Shea.
63:54
Game Leaders
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's SoccerForward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's SoccerForward
/ Women's Soccer
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's SoccerDefender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
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