The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-3-3, 4-2-2 ACC) returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers (5-9-2, 1-7 ACC) at Spry. For the Deacs, this win snapped a 3 game winless run and put them right back in the ACC Tournament conversation, as the Deacs now sit 1 point behind #7 Duke for the 6th and final tournament spot. As for the Panthers, this result confirmed that this season will be their first losing season since 2019, and it extended their losing streak to 5 games, as Ben
Waldrum’s first season in charge continues to unravel. Overall, despite some early trouble for the Deacs and a late Pitt push, it was a hard earned three points for Wake, who attacked well early and did enough late to see out the result, and they gained three critical points in their pursuit of an ACC Tournament spot as a result.
In the early going of the first half, Pitt was causing the Deacs some trouble with their press, which was initially not that aggressive, but the Deacs’ trouble playing through the Panthers drew Pitt further up the field defensively to unsettle the Wake backline. In the 10th minute, Pitt looked as if they might break the deadlock, as, after the Panthers were able to pounce on a wayward pass from Wake center back Sammi Wiemann, a great ball in behind sent forward Margaret Wilde in on goal. However, Wiemann was able to recover and make an inch-perfect tackle just inside the penalty area to snuff out the danger. The play was sent to the monitor for a video review, but the replay clearly showed that Wiemann had gotten a touch on the ball before contacting Wilde, so no penalty was given. In the 11th minute, Pitt once again came close to an opener. Margaret Wilde would be involved again, this time picking up the ball near midfield and attempting an audacious chip over keeper Valentina Amaral, who was well off her line. It looked destined for the back of the net, but Amaral was able to scramble back and just barely tip the ball wide of the post.
Despite the Panthers’ early dominance, their decision to come out of their defensive shell made the game more open and transition-heavy, which is exactly the kind of game this Wake attack excels in. It was end to end at this point, with both teams finding plenty of space in the opposing end. In the 13th minute, the Deacs were able to create a huge chance, with a long ball forward from right back Brooke Miller looped over the Pitt defense and into the path of midfielder Alex Wood, who found herself one on one with Pitt keeper Abby Reisz. Reisz was up to the challenge, though, getting a foot to Wood’s effort to deflect the ball wide of the goal. In the 17th minute, though, the deadlock would be broken. The Deacs were able to clear their lines after a Pitt corner kick, and left back Sierra Sythe was able to get onto the clearance and carry the ball up the right flank. She sent the ball upfield to winger Allie Flanagan, who took a great touch to get around defender Mya Archibald. Flanagan strode into the penalty area and played the ball across to Alex Wood, who made no mistake the second time around, stroking the ball past Reisz for her second goal of the season, giving the Deacs a 1-0 lead.
Wake nearly added to their advantage just 2 minutes later, with another long ball from the defense springing an attacker in on goal. This time, it was Sammi Wiemann launching one up the field for Allie Flanagan, but Abby Reisz came out of her area and made a tremendous tackle on Flanagan to end the danger. In the 25th minute, though, the Deacs would double their lead, and through an unlikely source. After Flanagan was brought down just outside the penalty area by center back Sophie Rourke, the Deacs would earn a dangerous set piece opportunity. Carly Wilson and Sierra Sythe stood over it, but the Deacs would run a play from the training ground instead. Sythe slid the ball to the top of the box for center back Laine DeNatale, who was peeling back from the back post, and DeNatale made no mistake, curling her effort past a frozen Reisz for her first career goal to double the Wake lead. From there, Pitt dropped their lines a bit deeper, hoping to limit any further damage on their end. They did grow into the game after the second goal, but neither team was able to create any clear cut opportunities for the rest of the half, and, when the buzzer sounded, it would still be 2-0 to the Deacs.
In the second half, it was the Panthers who were largely controlling the game, although they didn’t have much to show for it in the first 25 minutes. They were able to disrupt the Deacs’ ability to play out of the back, but they weren’t able to create clear cut chances when they did get the ball, so it did not feel as if the points were in jeopardy for Wake. In the last 20 minutes, though, they really began to push and cause problems for the Deacs. In the 75th minute, Pitt caught the Deacs playing out of the back, with Panther midfielder Magali Gagne getting a touch on a pass from Valentina Amaral, with the ball then deflecting out to winger Lucia Wells at the top of the box, who could not direct her effort on frame. Just a minute later, though, the Panthers would get their goal. A great ball from the left side of the field found Margaret Wilde on the far side of the penalty area near the endline. Wilde cut the ball back across goal, and Mya Archibald was able to get to it ahead of Valentina Amaral at the top of the 6 yard box, smashing it into the back of the net for her first goal of the season to cut the Panthers’ deficit to 1.
Pitt were reinvigorated after the goal, and they continued to push on for an equalizer. In the 80th minute, another ball from the left flank came across to Margaret Wilde, with the Pitt forward nodding it towards goal at the back stick, but her effort would stay just wide of the post. In the 84th minute, the Deacs nearly put the game on ice, with Alex Wood winning the ball on the left flank and getting it ahead to Kylie Maxwell. Maxwell was able to carry it up the field and get it onto her right foot for a shot attempt at the top of the box, but she wasn’t able to squeeze it between a pair of Pitt defenders, and the ball would deflect out of play for a corner. In the 90th minute, Pitt would make their final push for an equalizer. Forward Sophia Doheny was able to nod the ball down to Magali Gagne at the top of the area after a long ball forward, and Gagne let a shot fly. Valentina Amaral was able to dive to her left and make a fantastic save to preserve the the lead. The Panthers sent the goalie up to attack the corner kick, but, after the initial corner was punched out of play by Amaral, the Panthers would run out of time, as the buzzer would sound just as the ball landed in the area from the ensuing corner, with the Deacs securing the win by a 2-1 score.
For the Deacs, this was a victory that they had to suffer for, and the three points they got at the end of the 90 minutes will be a welcome reward for their efforts. There are plenty of players to choose from for the player of the match, with Laine DeNatale putting in a strong defensive performance alongside her goal, Allie Flanagan was excellent as well going forward, adding an assist to her ledger, and Alex Wood had a blue collar attacking performance that included a true striker’s finish for her goal. For me, though, Valentina Amaral was player of the match in this game. Amaral only had 3 saves in the 90 minutes, but they were all huge saves that were critical to delivering the three points to the Deacs.
Wake will return to action on Sunday, 10/26 against #1 Notre Dame at Spry. Kickoff is set for 2:00 PM EDT, and the game will be broadcast on ACCNX/ESPN+.
