CARSON, Calif. – For the second time in program history and first since 2011, the No. 2-seeded Wake Forest women’s soccer team (15-3-4) has advanced to the College Cup following a 4-3 advancement in penalty kicks over No. 1-seed USC (18-1-4) Friday afternoon at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. The two sides ended 110 minutes of action level at 2-2 before senior Kristin Johnson converted on the winning penalty kick.
The Deacs took the lead in the 21st minute of the contest, as a beautifully placed through ball from senior defender Zara Chavoshi found junior Caiya Hanks who buried Wake Forest’s first shot of the afternoon into the side netting.
Also with the goal, it marked the first time USC had trailed in the NCAA Tournament and was the first time the Trojans were behind since a 2-1 loss to then-No. 1 Stanford on Sept. 8, a span of 17 matches.
USC would level the match less than two minutes out of the halftime break before taking a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute. Despite the deficit, Wake Forest responded in the 80th minute, as junior Alex Wood one-time a shot from a nicely set up pass from Hanks.
After neither side was able to score in the 20 minutes of overtime action, the Demon Deacons and Trojans went to penalty kicks. Sophomore Valentina Amaral, who finished the evening with six saves, set the tone by stopping USC’s first attempt before Johnson slotted home the match-advancing kick.
College Cup Bound
Wake Forest advanced to the College Cup for the second time in program history, with the first coming in 2011.
The Demon Deacons will take on Stanford in the semifinal match next Friday in Cary, N.C.
It will be a rematch of Wake Forest’s first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked team as the Deacs defeated the Cardinal, 1-0, earlier this season at Spry Stadium.
Wake Forest is in the midst of its 23rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament, with 22 of them coming under the helm of Tony da Luz.
The Demon Deacons have made three of the last four tournaments, just missing out last year with a record of 10-3-5 and a sixth-place ACC finish.
Wake Forest now holds an overall record of 26-21-1 in the tournament.