The #13 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (9-2-3, 3-1-2 ACC) dropped points in ACC play again yesterday, drawing 1-1 with the Louisville Cardinals (10-3-1, 3-2-1 ACC) at Spry. For the Deacs, with yesterday’s result and last week’s loss to NC State, it is the first time they have dropped points in consecutive games since the 2023 season. For the Cardinals, it is also the first time they have dropped points in consecutive games this season, but they will certainly be encouraged by a draw on the road with a top
15 opponent, and one that they stole late. With this result, though, Louisville has fallen out of the ACC tournament spots, dropping to 7th in the conference after NC State’s 1-0 win at Boston College. The Wolfpack also pulled level on points with the Deacs after yesterday’s games, although Wake remains ahead in 5th on goal differential. With UNC only 2 points back and holding a game in hand on both teams, a draw may have been a bad result for the Cardinals and Deacs. This game was a tale of two halves, with both sides having their moments, and, ultimately, they were unable to separate themselves from the other.
In the first half, it was Wake that largely controlled proceedings. It was an odd change of system for the Cardinals, who, rather than pressing high up the field as they usually do, they opted for a more conservative defensive approach, instead dropping into a mid block. Wake, on the other hand, pressed high and caused a lot of issues for the Cardinals, who were unable to get out in transition and make anything happen in possession. Despite very few clear cut chances from either side, Wake was putting a lot of pressure on the Louisville back line with crosses into the area and long shots. Louisville, on the other hand, hardly ever made their way into Wake’s half, and they only mustered 2 shots in the first 45 minutes. In the 30th minute, Wake was able to take advantage of their match control and take the lead, albeit through some good fortune. The ball was switched to right back Sierra Sythe on the right flank, who looped a ball into the Louisville area. Two Cardinals leapt for the ball but were unable to get a touch on it, and it fell to an unmarked Alex Wood on the left side of the penalty area. Wood lashed a shot across goal and rattled the post, but it bounced right back out into the goal mouth for freshman forward Allie Flanagan, who had little to do but jab the ball into the back of the net for her 5th goal of the season. That would prove to be the decisive moment of the half, as the game retained its same tenor for the last 15 minutes, and, as the buzzer sounded, it was the Deacs who would go into the break up a goal.
In the second half, Louisville looked like a new team. They returned to their pressing style that had been effective for them all season, and it caused the Deacs a tremendous amount of issues. Almost the whole half was played in Wake’s end, as the Deacs were unable to play through the pressure or get the ball out in transition for their forwards. From the 60th minute on, Louisville looked destined to score. In the 63rd minute, winger Nicole Jodoin put a lovely ball into the box from the right flank, one that was just out of the reach of Fina Davy, who had a free header at the top of the six yard box if she could connect. Sierra Sythe headed it half clear, but only into the path of Kiley Peat, who was all by herself at the top of the area. Peat smacked it goalwards, but center back Sammi Wiemann was able to get her body in front of it and deflect the ball wide for a corner kick. In the 66th minute, Louisville had another opportunity, and it was perhaps the game’s biggest chance. The Cardinals once again worked the ball up the right flank, with a cross coming into the area for an unmarked Fina Davy near the penalty spot, who smacked it first time towards goal. Somehow, goalkeeper Valentina Amaral was able to get down to her right and parry the ball away, after which the flag came up for offside. On replay, it looked like Davy was actually held onside by a Wake defender, so, if the ball went in, the goal would likely have been given after video review. Because of the offside, the save won’t show up on the stat sheet, but it was another big time moment from one of the nation’s best goalkeepers.
Despite being denied on several huge chances, this Louisville team was not disheartened and continued to push the Deacs. In the 80th minute, the Cardinals once again put the ball into a dangerous position, this time from a corner kick. Winger Amelia Swinarski put in an inswinger into the area that was met by defender Karsyn Cherry, who popped the ball up with her first header, and then nodded it down into the path of her back line partner Ella Bard. Sammi Wiemann was just able to get a touch of the ball ahead of Bard, and midfielder Dempsey Brown was able to boot it out of the box. Swinarski was able to latch onto the clearance on the right flank and play it inside to midfielder Betsy Huckaby, who sprung winger Emersen Jennings. Jennings got the better of left back Brooke Miller off the dribble and put a beautiful ball in to the back post, where Karsyn Cherry found herself unmarked. Cherry couldn’t direct her effort on frame, though, and play would resume with a goal kick. In the 82nd minute, though, Wake ran out of luck. A long ball up the field was cut out by center back Laine DeNatale, but DeNatale took a beat too long to clear it and was stripped by Mackenzie Geigle. Geigle carried the ball to the top of the penalty area and played it inside to Amelia Swinarski. Swinarski tried to play Betsy Huckaby to her left striding into the area, but Sammi Wiemann was able to step up and put her foot through it. However, finally, it was Louisville who got a good bounce, Wiemann’s clearance deflected off of Huckaby and back into the center of the area where Liza Suydam was waiting, and she made no mistake, tucking the ball into the side netting for her 6th goal of the season to level the score. Despite a late Wake push and a couple of Louisville half chances in the last 2 minutes, when the final buzzer sounded, the points would be shared.
Wake coach Tony da Luz was very measured in his post match comments, calling the draw a fair result with a good team, but you have to think he will be frustrated with his side not having been able to secure all three points with a lead in the last 10 minutes. There were plenty of players to choose from for player of the match, with the goalscorers Flanagan and Suydam coming to mind, Amelia Swinarski having an impactful game and a hand in the tying goal, and Brooke Miller having an exceptional game at left back, but, for me, the player of the match was Sammi Wiemann. This was Wiemann’s first ever collegiate start and only her third ever game, but you would not know it based on her play. She was exceptional on the ball against Louisville’s press and had several vital defensive interventions that may have prevented this game from being 2-1 or 3-1 Louisville instead of a 1-1 draw. If she can keep up this level of play, it’s hard not to imagine her being a huge piece as Wake comes down the stretch of this season.
The Deacs will return to action next Thursday, 10/16, at Historic Riggs Field in Clemson, SC, where they will take on the Clemson Tigers. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM EDT, and the game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
