Demon Deacons Open Road Stretch With Sixth-Straight Shutout

Thursday, September 3

Tampa, Fla.

7 p.m.

Wake Forest University

6-0-0, 0-0-0

USF

1-4-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Wake Forest	1	2	3
South Fla.	0	0	0

Demon Deacons Open Road Stretch With Sixth-Straight Shutout

9/3/2026 11:40:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score PDF Box Score Season Stats

Wake Forest held the Bulls to just one shot on goal.

By: Kaitlyn Stocum

TAMPA, Fla. -- The No. 5 Wake Forest women's soccer team (6-0-0, 0-0-0 ACC) grabbed its first road win of the season with a 3-0 win over the South Florida Bulls (1-4-0, AAC 0-0-0), Thursday night at Corbett Stadium.

The Demon Deacons are yet to allow a goal this season, and are the only team in the country to have six wins and zero goals conceded.

The Demon Deacon defense was an impenetrable force, allowing three shots the entire game, and just one in the second half alone. Redshirt-junior Valentina Amaral made the start in net to anchor the defense, with redshirt-freshman Lizzie Thornton coming in for the final eight minutes to secure the combined shutout.

Sophomore forward Kylie Maxwell netted the opening goal of the night, with freshman midfielder Eva Forster earning her first career assist and point on the strike. The Deacs held a 1-0 advantage out of the halftime break, and soon extended their lead.

Graduate student forward Henley Tippins displayed offensive prowess, dodging multiple defenders in the box to put Wake Forest up by two with 25 minutes to play. Tippins stepped back into action five minutes later, drawing a foul inside the box.

Redshirt-junior defender Sierra Sythe stepped up to the line once again, draining the ball for her second-straight converted penalty kick and third-straight goal.

How It Happened

Despite an hour rain delay, the Deacs came out fresh to face South Florida.
Less than three minutes in, redshirt-junior defender Sierra Sythe sent a long ball from the left side on target, but the Bulls' keeper was there for the save.
In the 8th minute, sophomore Kylie Maxwell recorded a shot on goal to keep the momentum going.
The Demon Deacons maintained heavy offensive pressure, throwing shots on net but sending them all high.
Graduate student forward Henley Tippins got in on the action in the 18th minute, with an off-target shot towards the net.
Wake Forest took a one goal lead in the 32nd minute, with sophomore forward Kylie Maxwell netting the opening goal.
- Freshman midfielder Eva Forster recorded her first career points with an assist on the goal.
The Demon Deacons outshot South Florida 11-2, holding them to just one shot in the first 24 minutes.
Wake Forest held a solid offensive presence into the second half, pressing hard into the Bulls' defense.
Tippins doubled the Deacs' lead in the 65th minute.
- Sophomore forward Allie Flanagan worked her way up the left side and connected with Tippins who maneuvered her way around the defense in the box for the goal.
Wake Forest took a 3-0 lead in the 71st minute off a converted penalty kick from redshirt-junior defender Sierra Sythe.
- This marked Sythe's third-straight goal of the season.
Redshirt-freshman Lizzie Thornton came in during the 82nd minute to relieve redshirt-junior Valentina Amaral.
With two minutes remaining, sophomore midfielder Sofia Atehortua launched a beautiful strike towards the net, but hit the crossbar.
Wake Forest defeated South Florida, 3-0.

Demon Deacon Details to Note

Junior midfielder Amaya Dawkins made her first start of the season and 10th of her career.
- Dawkins also went the full 90, along with senior midfielder Dempsey Brown.
Freshman midfielder Eva Forster recorded her first career assist and point.
Senior forward Kaitlyn Sasadeusz played a season-high 31 minutes.
Freshman midfielder/defender Ava Reddy played a career-high 50 minutes.

From Coach da Luz
"We showed strong focus and mentality tonight after a long game delay. Our passing was excellent tonight, we made the opponent run and finished the game in the second half. Dempsey filled in on short notice and was solid at center back. All three goals were well made, I'm so happy for Henley for scoring and creating the penalty. Sierra was amazing and Kylie's goal was a bomb! We want to close out the non-con season with a big performance on Sunday. "

Up Next
Wake Forest continues its Florida stretch, traveling north to Gainesville, Fla. to face the No. 21 Florida Gators on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. The contest will be streamed on SECN+ with live stats available here.