Recap: #12 Wake Forest Women’s Soccer Falls to NC State 2-1

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (9-2-2, 3-1-1 ACC) lost their 8 game unbeaten streak in a 2-1 defeat against the NC State Wolfpack (3-6-4, 2-1-2 ACC) at Dail Soccer Field in Raleigh on Thursday. With this result, Wake have lost their second game and first ACC game of the season, dealing a blow to their hopes of qualifying for the 6-team ACC Championship Tournament. For State, it is a 4th game unbeaten after a tough start, and another result against a ranked opponent after their 1-1 draw with #6 FSU on 9/21. It was a tense and open game that Wake largely controlled, but an early sucker punch by the Pack took the game just out of reach.

It was a tough start for the Deacs in this game, as NC State came out and put a lot of pressure on their backline early. The Pack were able to create a lot of havoc in Wake’s end, and, after an 9th minute corner kick, they were able to deliver the game’s first goal. A clumsy Lola Ressler challenge just inside the area after the initial ball was repelled gave NC State a penalty kick. Junior forward Jade Bordeleau slotted the ball into the back of the net for her 7th goal of the season from the ensuing spot kick, sneaking the ball under Wake keeper Valentina Amaral. The Wolfpack did not take long to extend their lead, as, after Wake attempted to play out of the back from the ensuing kickoff, Sierra Sythe turned the ball over on a poor pass that was intercepted by Bordeleau. Two passes later, Bordeleau found herself in on goal after a brilliant ball from Daisy Duda and made no mistake inside the area, calmly side footing the ball past Amaral and into the back of the net for her second of the night and 8th overall just 36 seconds after opening the scoring.

After the second goal, NC State dropped into more of a mid block, which allowed Wake to grow more into the game. Although the Deacs were not able to create many quality chances for most of the half, they had much more match control, and the Pack’s decision to step further back allowed them to build more out of the back and be more positive in possession. Kylie Maxwell fired a warning shot only minutes after the second goal, bundling the ball towards the net after a deflection from an NC State defender, but the slow rolling ball was clawed off the line by Wolfpack keeper Olivia Pratapas. The Deacs were kept mostly quiet after that chance, being limited to shots from outside the area that did not force Pratapas into action. However, in the 43rd minute, they finally broke through. After the Pack were unable to clear an initial ball in from center back Laine Denatale, a floated ball into the area from midfielder Amaya Dawkins on the right flank sat up perfectly for Elliana Ramirez inside the six yard box, who flicked the ball into the side netting for her first collegiate goal to bring the Deacs back within one just moments before half time. It was a lifeline that they desperately needed, and it felt as if they had all the momentum going into the second half when the buzzer sounded.

In the second half, Wake was using their momentum to full effect, playing with a lot more urgency and creating plenty of dangerous looks in front of the State goal. A great Sierra Sythe ball across goal to Allie Flanagan near the top of the six yard area looked to be a dangerous chance, but Flanagan could not make good contact with the service, popping the ball up to be claimed easily by Olivia Pratapas. Pratapas was called into action again in the 64th minute when Kylie Maxwell found herself with a breakaway opportunity from the left side of the area, but the Wolfpack keeper was once again equal to it, kicking her leg out in front of Maxwell’s effort to keep the Pack’s lead. In the 70th minute, it was Pratapas denying Maxwell for a third time, this time making a huge reaction save to parry the ball over the crossbar after the Wake forward directed a thumping header towards the center of the goal from a corner kick. Over the next 10-15 minutes, Wake maintained control but State was able to limit the Deacs from getting any clear opportunities, and the air seemed to be taken out of the game, especially as Wake committed more numbers forward, allowing State to exploit the space up the field to take more time off of the clock when they were in possession. Wake did respond with a late flurry, nearly finding the equalizer again in the 86th minute, as, after the initial service from a corner was punched away by Pratapas, the ball fell to defender/midfielder Dempsey Brown, who had time to shoot in the center of the area. Brown struck her effort well, but it would end up striking the crossbar and coming out. Another corner in the 89th minute nearly gave Wake their equalizer again, as forward Hannah Johnson connected well on a header inside the six yard box, but her effort glanced agonizingly wide of the goal off the bounce. Wake did not stop pushing in the game’s final minute, but, after another corner was cleared away by the Wolfpack, time would run out on the Deacs, and the Pack would earn their first win over Wake since 2022.

In the end, what coach Tony da Luz said at halftime was prescient: “We were still on the bus when the game started.” Despite all the good Wake did, especially in the second half, they couldn’t overcome the deficit they fell into in the first 10 minutes. State proved to be ruthless with the opportunities they did get, and the problems that have plagued Wake this season, their transition defending and buildup from the back, ended up dooming them to defeat here. For the player of the match in this game, there are really only a couple to choose from, and they are NC State forward Jade Bordeleau and goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas. While Bordeleau was spectacular throughout and proved to be a handful for the Wake defense, even beyond the two goals she scored, I think the player of this match was Olivia Pratapas. Pratapas was the player that preserved this result for the Wolfpack, making 8 saves, 7 of which were in the second half, to help carry her side to their first win over a ranked opponent since 2021.

For Wake, this was certainly a shock result that will certainly sting, but they’ll look to find some solace in a return to Winston-Salem, as their next game will be on 10/9 at Spry against the Louisville Cardinals. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM EDT, and the game will be broadcast on ACCNX/ESPN+.