Wake Forest Women’s Soccer Reveals 2025 Spring Schedule

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Following one of the most successful seasons in program history capped off by its first-ever National Championship appearance, head coach Tony da Luz and Wake Forest women's soccer program announced its 2025 spring schedule Friday afternoon.

The six-game slate will begin on Thursday, Feb. 27 as the Demon Deacons head to the Queen City for a clash with UNC Charlotte at 7:30 p.m. The 49ers closed out their 2024 regular season unbeaten in six-consecutive matches.

Wake Forest will then make a short trip to face UNC Greensboro on Wednesday, March 5 at 7 p.m. The two triad rivals have not met in the regular season since 2016 when the Deacs picked up a 3-0 road win over the Spartans.

The Deacs will make their return to the iconic Spry Stadium with a Sunday double-header against Georgia (11:30 a.m.) and Toyo University (1 p.m.) on March 23. Of note, Wake Forest has posted a stellar 18-3-6 record at home since the start of 2022, including a 9-1-1 mark at home last season.

The most anticipated matchup of the spring will come to Spry Stadium on Sunday, March 30 when the Demon Deacons battle the Duke Blue Devils at 5 p.m. Wake Forest and Duke both made it to the College Cup in 2024 and finished inside the top five of the final United Soccer Coaches Poll.

Wake Forest will return to Greensboro for the spring finale in a neutral match with the Clemson Tigers on Saturday, April 12 (4 p.m.) at Bryan Park.

2025 Spring Schedule

Opponent	Location	Date - Time
UNC Charlotte	Charlotte, N.C.	Feb. 27 - 7:30 p.m.
UNC Greensboro	Greensboro, N.C.	March 5 - 7 p.m.
Georgia	Spry Stadium	March 23 - 11:30 a.m.
University of Toyo	Spry Stadium	March 23 - 1 p.m.
Duke	Spry Stadium	March 30 - 5 p.m.
Clemson	Greensboro, N.C.	April 12 - 4 p.m.

Returning Players to Watch

Caiya Hanks
- Caiya Hanks became just the second player in Wake Forest history to be tabbed First Team All-America and first to be named a MAC Hermann Finalist.
- With three goals and five assists in the NCAA tournament, Hanks finished the season inside the top 10 in program history in points (34), goals (11) and assists (12) for a single season.
- Her assist against Stanford broke the record for the most assists in a single-season as a Demon Deacon (12).
  - The point also moved her to 34 for the year which only trails Katie Stengel's 2010 (37 points) and 2011 (46 points) seasons.
- Hanks was also tied for the most total points (11) and led in assists (5) for the NCAA Tournament, while also sitting tied for sixth in goals (3).
- With her assist in the second round, she became just the sixth player at the D1 level this season to reach 10 goals and 10 assists, and third to do so in program history, joining Anne Shropshire (1998) and Kaley Fountain (2009).
Valentina Amaral
- Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Valentina Amaral had an incredible season for the Demon Deacons in goal after missing a majority of her true freshman season.
- In the semifinals against Stanford, she logged four saves including an incredible diving stop in the first half that earned its way on Sportscenter's Top 10 plays.
- Her .620 goals-against average this season ranked as the lowest in program history.
- Additionally, her five clean sheets in conference play ranked as the second-most in the ACC.
- In her first full season, Amaral started all 10 ACC matches and only allowed seven goals, the fewest in the conference.
- Amaral is now 12-3-3 in matches she has started for her career.
Sierra Sythe
- After missing her entire first season on campus due to injury, made an instant impact for the Deacs.
- She appeared in all 24 matches, starting 18 after transitioning to right back due to injuries at the position.
- Finished the 2024 season with three goals and three assists, including the assist on the winner in the national semifinals against Stanford.
- Sythe scored first-career goal at home against Temple and first ACC goal on the road against Virginia.
Dempsey Brown
- An ACC All-Freshman team honoree in 2023, Dempsey Brown is another versatile player who excels in multiple positions.
- As a freshman, Brown went the full 90 minutes in 13 of her 16 starts and played a crucial role in a stellar defensive season for the Demon Deacons.
- Last season, Brown recorded two assists and helped Wake Forest post one of the best defensive records in the nation.

2024 Season Highlights

Wake Forest advanced to the College Cup for the second time in program history, with the first coming in 2011 when the Demon Deacons had Katie Stengel (Crystal Palace) leading the line and Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit) between the sticks.
It also marked Wake Forest's 23rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament, with 22 of them coming under the helm of Tony da Luz.
Five members of the Wake Forest women's soccer team were selected for 2024 All-ACC honors, headlined by a First-Team selection for junior forward Caiya Hanks.
- Returning goalkeeper Valentina Amaral was tabbed Third Team.
Spry Stadium has almost guaranteed results for the Demon Deacons over the last three seasons, as Wake Forest has posted a stellar 18-3-6 record at home since the start of 2022.
- Wake Forest finished the 2024 season with a 9-1-1 mark at Spry.
Head coach Tony da Luz is one of just 26 coaches to coach in the College Cup multiple times (2011, 2024).
- Additionally, he is one of 20 coaches all-time to have 24 or more NCAA Tournament wins and ranks tied for seventh all-time in NCAA Tournament appearances at 23.
On Sept. 19, the Demon Deacons claimed their first-ever win over a No. 1 team as they took down Stanford, 1-0.
- The Deacs became the first team in NCAA history to take down a No. 1-ranked team and a No. 2-ranked team in back-to-back matches after downing No. 2 Virginia in Charlottesville on Sept. 15.
Wake Forest finished with 22 points in ACC play as it finished second in the ACC, tied for the best finish in program history.
- 22 points and seven total wins in conference play is the most in program history.
The Deacs had five top-10 wins last season, the most for the Deacs in program history.
In addition to posting the best goals-against average in the conference, the Wake Forest defense only conceded seven goals during ACC play, the fewest in the conference as well as the second-most clean sheets with five.
- 11 goals allowed in the regular season is the fewest in program history, beating last season's record by three goals.

Wake Forest Athletics

Wake Forest Women’s Soccer Reveals 2025 Spring Schedule

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Valentina Amaral

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