Wake Forest beats No. 1 Stanford 1-0, days after beating No. 2 ranked Virginia

(By Dylan Shackelford and Andrew Kovar – Wake Forest Athletics)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – For the first time in program history, the No. 13-ranked Wake Forest women’s soccer team defeated the No. 1 team in the country, as it handled Stanford, 1-0, Thursday evening at Spry Stadium. (Box Score)

The Demon Deacons (7-2-1, 2-1-0 ACC) continued to ride the momentum after defeating No. 2 Virginia, 3-0, on Sunday. The Deacs grew into the contest and controlled possession for much of the first half before getting on the board with a wonder strike from senior Emily Colton in the 30th minute into the top right corner of the goal.

It marked her third goal for the Demon Deacons and 13th of her career. Junior Caiya Hanks picked up her team-high fourth assist of the season following a great forward run.

Emily. Freaking. Colton.

📺ACC Network Extra https://t.co/NZZpt93j1d pic.twitter.com/XRKPwuQ0q4

— Wake Women’s Soccer (@WakeWSoccer) September 19, 2024

The marker would be all Wake Forest needed as they handed the No. 1 Cardinal (8-1-0, 0-1-0 ACC) their first loss of the season. The match also marked the first conference game for Stanford as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Deacs continued to be on the front foot for much of the first half as they had chances to double their lead. At the half, Wake Forest had an 8-to-4 shot advantage and went on to finish the game with a 14-11 shot edge for the game.

On the defensive side of the pitch, the Demon Deacons stayed composed and organized while redshirt freshman Valentina Amaral stood tall in net. She made a key save in the ninth minute to keep the game level and finished the night with four saves for her second consecutive clean sheet.

Five outfield players for the Demon Deacons went the full 90 minutes, including the entire backline of seniors Laurel Ansbrow, Zara Chavoshi, Kristin Johnson and freshman Sierra Sythe. The four defended superbly over the course of the contest.

Wake Forest has not conceded a goal in the last 243 combined minutes, dating back to the game at No. 10 North Carolina a week ago. Overall this season, Amaral has a 0.28 goals against average including 10 saves on 11 shots (.909 save percentage).

Wake Forest has been incredible at Spry Stadium over the last three seasons, as it has posted a stellar 15-2-5 record at home since the start of 2022 and is currently on a 13-game unbeaten stretch. This marks the second-longest unbeaten home stretch in program history and is one shy of the record set in 2007-08.

Women’s soccer is believed to be the sixth program in Wake Forest history to knock off the No. 1 team in the country joining Baseball, Field Hockey, Men’s Basketball, Men’s Soccer and Men’s Tennis.

The Demon Deacons are now 3-0-1 all-time against Stanford dating back to 1997. Of note, Wake Forest is the only team in the nation to be undefeated against Stanford all-time with at least three matches played.
For more on Wake Forest’s historic win, click here.