Wake Forest Athletics
No. 7 Wake Forest Opens Season at Home with ACC/Big Ten Challenge
8/27/2026 1:00:00 PM | Field Hockey
The Deacs face two ranked opponents to start the 2026 season.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The No. 7 ranked Wake Forest field hockey team begins the 2026 season at home hosting the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The Deacs will take on No. 11 Iowa on Friday, August 28, at 6 p.m. ET, followed by a Sunday showdown with No. 14 Michigan at 2 p.m. ET. Both matches will be available on ACCNX.
Opponent History
Friday's matchup with the Hawkeyes marks a rematch of last season's opener, where Wake Forest fell 5-4 due to a last minute penalty corner goal.
The Deacs will then face the Wolverines for another Big Ten power matchup. In last year's meeting, Wake Forest battled for 60 minutes before falling 2-1.
Wake looks to start the season with a pair of Big Ten wins after just falling short last season.
Wake Forest Highlights
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Deacs will take on No. 11 Iowa on Friday, August 28, at 6 p.m. ET, followed by a Sunday showdown with No. 14 Michigan at 2 p.m. ET. Both matches will be available on ACCNX.
Opponent History
Friday's matchup with the Hawkeyes marks a rematch of last season's opener, where Wake Forest fell 5-4 due to a last minute penalty corner goal.
The Deacs will then face the Wolverines for another Big Ten power matchup. In last year's meeting, Wake Forest battled for 60 minutes before falling 2-1.
Wake looks to start the season with a pair of Big Ten wins after just falling short last season.
Wake Forest Highlights
- Nine-Time ACC Coach of the Year Jen Averill will be heading into her 34th season at Wake Forest.
- She sits just nine wins away from her 450th win as a Demon Deacon.
- Wake Forest Field Hockey team returns its top-five points scorers from the 2025 season.
- All five student-athletes who reached double-digit points return, as Mia Schoenbeck (51), Lauren Storey (34), Mia Montag (28), Sarah Mudd (18), and Faye Janse (14) look to build on a season ago.
- Wake returns 2026 ACC Offensive Player of the Year in Schoenbeck, ACC Defensive Player of the Year in Montag, and ACC Freshman of the Year in Reabetswe Phume.
- The Deacons remained undefeated at home last season, 10-0 and are looking to continue that streak into the opening weekend.
- Wake welcomes eight newcomers in the 2026 freshman class.
- The Deacs' roster consists of seven different countries: England, South Africa, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, Netherlands, and the United States.
- The Demon Deacons scored five goals in two exhibition matches. In their exhibition against Duke, senior Ava Moore and junior Sarah Mudd recorded a goal each. Against North Carolina, Moore recorded a brace and Mudd added another goal.
- At the senior level for Team USA, senior Mia Schoeneck was selected to the U.S. Women's National Team for the 2026 FIH World Cup. She has started in every match in Belgium. She recorded a game sealing goal in their first match against No. 14 Scotland to help the U.S. secure their first win 3-2. Schoenbeck recorded a go ahead goal to help USA defeat No. 11 Ireland 3-1 in the second phase of pool play. The United States fell to No. 7 England on Thursday morning to finish in tenth place at the FIH Hockey World Cup.
- Rising juniors Lena Keller and Mia Montag competed with Team Germany and earned bronze medals at the EuroHockey U21 Women's Championship.
- For the upcoming season, Wake Forest Field Hockey fans will have 10 opportunities to catch the Demon Deacons in action during the regular season at Kentner Stadium.
GoDeacs.com | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Players Mentioned
F/M
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field Hockey
B
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field Hockey
B
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field Hockey
F
/ Field HockeyWednesday, August 26
Tuesday, August 25
Friday, August 21
Wednesday, August 19