Wake Forest Demon Deacons
ACC
Wake Forest, under veteran head coach Tony Da Luz, is looking to follow up last year’s epic run to the 2011 Women’s College Cup with another journey to San Diego for the 2012 Women’s College Cup. It has been an interesting season for the Demon Deacons as they have gotten the opposition’s best shot. This Wake Forest team can no longer fly under the radar as the College Cup has elevated the Demon Deacons to new heights on the national landscape of women’s college soccer. The experience and talent are in place and it will come down to staying consistent in the overall play in the NCAA Tournament if the Demon Deacons are to replicate the success of 2011.
2012 Record: 13-5-3
Coach: Tony da Luz
Good Results: 9/20 Boston College (2-0), 10/5 at Virginia (2-1), 10/21 at North Carolina (2-1)
Bad Results: 8/19 vs UNC Wilmington (0-0), 8/24 UNC Greensboro (0-1), 10/7 Kansas (1-1)
Why They Can Surprise:
Wake Forest has the ability to raise their level of play against the elite competition of the ACC on the road. They secured wins against Virginia, and North Carolina and played Florida State very tough on the road as well. Katie Stengel and Kristen Meier have combined for 11 goals so far this season heading into the ACC Semifinals. The Demon Deacons can also surprise because they know what it takes to win in November after last year’s run to the College Cup. The defense for Wake Forest has been very solid and they have only allowed more than one goal to be scored against them on three occasions. This will serve the team well in the postseason as the games tend to trend toward lower scoring type of contests with scoring chances a little more limited than in the regular season when teams are more apt to take more chances.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The Demon Deacons have shown a tendency to be very inconsistent in their overall play at times. On multiple occasions, Wake Forest has followed big road win performances at Virginia and North Carolina with lackluster efforts at home. They lost to good teams in Kansas and Virginia Tech, but they are both teams that this Demon Deacon squad should have been able to defeat and not lose by three goals to a reeling Hokie team. Any type of lackluster start in the NCAA Tournament that puts Wake Forest behind early and forces them to push forward could lead to a premature exit from the postseason and a chance to defend their national title. Also, if they struggle to finish scoring chances in the postseason, that could doom this Demon Deacon squad as well.
Key Strikers:
Katie Stengel, Junior, 7 goals, 3 assists
Rachel Nuzzolese, Junior, 4 goals, 3 assists
Key Midfielders:
Kristen Meier, Senior, 4 goals, 5 assists
Ally Berry, Junior, 3 goals, 5 assists
Marisa Park, Senior, 2 goals, 3 assists
Riley Ridgik, Sophomore, 1 goal, 2 assists
Key Defenders:
Kim Marshall, Sophomore, 3 goals, 0 assists
Jackie Logue, Senior, 1 goal, 2 assists
Jackie McSally, Junior, 1 goal, 0 assists
Key Goalkeepers:
Aubrey Bledsoe, Junior, 0.83 goals against average, .760 save percentage, 7 shutouts
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 1.55 (110th in nation, 8th in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 0.774 (38, 4)
Shutout Percentage: 0.400 (75, 6)
Save Percentage: 0.768 (188, 6)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
Wake Forest 2011 First Round Defeated Oakland
Wake Forest 2011 Second Round Defeated Boston University
Wake Forest 2011 Third Round Lost to Penn State
Wake Forest 2010 First Round Defeated San Diego
Wake Forest 2010 Second Round Lost to UC Irvine
Wake Forest 2009 First Round Defeated Kennesaw State
Wake Forest 2009 Second Round Defeated West Virginia
Wake Forest 2009 Third Round Defeated South Carolina
Wake Forest 2009 Quarterfinals Lost to North Carolina
Wake Forest 2008 First Round Defeated Morehead State
Wake Forest 2008 Second Round Lost to James Madison
Wake Forest 2007 First Round Defeated Boston University
Wake Forest 2007 Second Round Lost to Connecticut
*all team stats through 10/28
See All Women’s Soccer Postseason Capsules
