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Coach Tony da Luz has had some outstanding teams in his 28 years running the Wake Forest women’s soccer program. This team, however, just might be his best. The third-ranked Demon Deacons nabbed a No.
2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and have built up steam as they head to the 64-team tournament. They will open play at Spry Stadium on Friday at 6 p.m.
against Morehead State (9-7-6) in a first-round game. Wake Forest's Emily Murphy (35) and N.C.
State's Brianna Weber (3) vie for a throw-in in the first half. The Demon Deacons are 12-3-3 with their three losses coming to Iowa early in the season, to North Carolina (1-0) and to Duke. The Duke loss was 2-0 at Spry Stadium late in the season.
“I think at this point, we've played so many top teams in the country we have that experience,” da Luz said. “We still have to figure out how to play the big games under pressure. And I think, like the Duke game we played at the end of the season, we were a little bit nervous.
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What da Luz says separates this team from his other 22 teams that made the NCAA Tournament in previous seasons is consistency. He loves how across the board there’s been an attack on offense that’s created 35 goals, and the defense has been solid giving up just 12 goals. The Demon Deacons were ranked as high as No.
2 this season, which is the highest they've ever been ranked in the history of the program. Wake Forest’s Hannah Johnson (20) celebrates with teammates after scoring in the second half of an ACC women’s soccer match on Thursday. The Deacons defeated the N.
C. State Wolfpack, 3-0. Caiva Hanks (eight goals, seven assists), Emily Colton (six goals, five assists) and Emily Murphy (four goals, seven assists) give the Demon Deacons one of the most potent attacks in the country.
Colton and Murphy are transfers from North Carolina who jumped right in to help. “We needed a focal point on our attack and that’s been Emily Murphy, and we needed a playmaker and that’s been Emily Colton,” da Luz said. The Demon Deacons actually have another starter named Emily in Emily Morris.
And yet another Emily is on the team. Reserve Emily Silva has played in just two games. The core players that da Luz also rely on are Kristin Johnson, Laurel Ansbrow and Zara Chvoshi.
“Those three have been together since their freshmen year,” da Luz said. Goalie Valentina Amaral has a 7-2-2 record with four shutouts and a 0.68 goals against average.
“Valentina is just realizing her potential so that’s been great to see,” da Luz said. Wake Forest head coach Tony da Luz applauds following the Deacons’ 3-0 victory over the N.C.
State Wolfpack in an ACC women’s soccer match on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Demon Deacons have never won a national championship in women’s soccer with the men winning the title in 2007. The Demon Deacons have been to one College Cup and that was in 2011. In 2011 and 2010 teams were probably two of the best teams da Luz has coached in his time in Winston-Salem.
Now, the Demon Deacons have a chance to make a serious run to the College Cup, which will be in Cary in December. “I can’t look that far ahead,” da Luz said about what might happen. “We just have to continue to learn how to play consistent because that’s been our best trait throughout the season.
We haven’t had any down days or anything like that.” [email protected] 336-727-4081 @johndellWSJ Get local news delivered to your inbox! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
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