Wake Forest Athletics
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Amaral and Sythe Named to Mac Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List
9/30/2026 2:39:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Wake Forest is one of five teams of the 21 represented with at least two players from the same school.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Wake Forest women's soccer redshirt-juniors Valentina Amaral and Sierra Sythe have been named to the 2026 Mac Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon.
Amaral was named twice to the watch list previously, both on the preseason goalkeepers watch list and players to watch. This marks the first time Sythe has been named to the watch list in her career.
The two leaders on the backline have been crucial to the Deacs success throughout the season across all offensive and defensive categories. Sythe has spearheaded the Demon Deacons' offense with six goals and 13 points, as well as converting all of the Deacs' penalty kick opportunities.
The defender has proven clutch under pressure, ranking second in the conference and sixth in the nation with four game-winning goals. Defensively, the captain commands one of the top backlines in the nation, allowing less than half a goal scored per game.
In goal, Amaral stands out as one of the best keepers in the nation. The All-American leads the conference with 0.45 goals against average and a 0.875 save percentage. Additionally with .556 shoutouts per game she ranks second in the ACC. Amaral reached 18 career shutouts this past September, placing her third among all-time Wake Forest keepers.
Sythe's 2026 Honors and Watch Lists
ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 1)
ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 2)
ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 3)
TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year Leaderboard
Sythe's Career Notes
Preseason Mac Hermann Goalkeepers to Watch List
Preseason Mac Hermann Players to Watch List
TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI
ACC Co-Goalkeeper of the Week (Week 1)
ACC Co-Goalkeeper of the Week (Week 4)
Amaral's Career Honors
Demon Deacons on Mac Hermann List
Amaral was named twice to the watch list previously, both on the preseason goalkeepers watch list and players to watch. This marks the first time Sythe has been named to the watch list in her career.
The two leaders on the backline have been crucial to the Deacs success throughout the season across all offensive and defensive categories. Sythe has spearheaded the Demon Deacons' offense with six goals and 13 points, as well as converting all of the Deacs' penalty kick opportunities.
The defender has proven clutch under pressure, ranking second in the conference and sixth in the nation with four game-winning goals. Defensively, the captain commands one of the top backlines in the nation, allowing less than half a goal scored per game.
In goal, Amaral stands out as one of the best keepers in the nation. The All-American leads the conference with 0.45 goals against average and a 0.875 save percentage. Additionally with .556 shoutouts per game she ranks second in the ACC. Amaral reached 18 career shutouts this past September, placing her third among all-time Wake Forest keepers.
Sythe's 2026 Honors and Watch Lists
ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 1)
ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 2)
ACC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 3)
TopDrawerSoccer Player of the Year Leaderboard
Sythe's Career Notes
- Second in the ACC and sixth in the nation with four game-winning goals
- Leads the Deacs in goals, GWG and points
- Multiple call ups to the USYNT U-23 team
- 2025 No. 40 on TopDrawerSoccer Midseason Rankings
- Helped the Deacs to one of the best defensive records in the nation in 2024
- Sixth in program history single season records with nine assists
Preseason Mac Hermann Goalkeepers to Watch List
Preseason Mac Hermann Players to Watch List
TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI
ACC Co-Goalkeeper of the Week (Week 1)
ACC Co-Goalkeeper of the Week (Week 4)
Amaral's Career Honors
- 2025 All-American Third Team
- 2025 All-ACC Third Team
- 2025 All-Atlantic Region
- 2024 All-ACC Third Team
- 2024 All-Atlantic Region
- Best Single-Season GAA In Program History (0.69)
- Third in program history with 18 career shutouts
Demon Deacons on Mac Hermann List
- Caiya Hanks | Forward
- 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist
- 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
- Kaitlyn Parks | Goalkeeper
- 2022 MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List
- Aubrey Bledsoe | Goalkeeper
- 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List
- Katie Stengel | Forward
- 2012 MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List
- 2011 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
- 2011 MAC Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List
- 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Women's Soccer
Defender
/ Women's SoccerWednesday, September 30
Tuesday, September 29
Monday, September 28
Friday, September 25