Women's Soccer Weekly Release
Demon Deacons set to open ACC play.
September 14, 1998
DEMON DEACONS OPEN ACC SEASON AT FSU & CLEMSON
The Wake Forest women's soccer team opens the Atlantic Coast Conference schedule this weekend, with trips to Florida State and Clemson on tap. Due to a quirk in the schedule for 1998, the two matches this weekend will be the only conference action away from home for Wake Forest. The remaining five league games will all be played at Spry Stadium during the month of October.
Wake Forest and Florida State square off on Friday at 7 p.m. in Tallahassee, while the Deacons and the Tigers will meet on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Clemson.
SCOUTING THE DEMON DEACONS
The Wake Forest women's soccer program, now in only its fifth season of competition at the varsity level, has already made a name for itself on the national level. The Demon Deacons have been ranked among the nation's top 20 teams and have earned invitations to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons. Head coach Tony da Luz has a squad comprised of a number of key veterans plus a talented freshman class which he hopes will guide the Deacs to their third consecutive NCAA berth this fall. Heading the returnees for Wake Forest is senior midfielder Stefanie Mathews, an all-Atlantic Coast Conference honoree last fall, who has two goals and one assist this season. Also in the deep midfield are junior Anne Shropshire, with five assists this season, and senior Meghan Suddes, who leads the squad with three goals scored.
Up front, the Demon Deacons turn to a duo of freshman in Emily Taggart, who scored a goal in her first career game against College of Charleston, and Rachel Parri, as well as sophomore Christie Melby to handle the forward position. The trio has combined for three goals and three assists this season.
The Wake Forest defense is anchored by senior Jessen Snyder, who owns 68 career starts, and junior sweeper Lauren Hook. Sophomore Colleen Bradley and senior Norine Fernbach round out the backfield. In goal, the Deacs will turn to either freshman Erin Regan, 2.09 GAA in 1998, or senior Sari Rose, who recorded shutouts vs. Charleston and Davidson, to provide steady play as the starter from 1997, Beth Klein, works to recover from a knee injury suffered last fall.
WEEK TWO RECAP
In a busy week of action, Wake Forest posted a 2-1 record in three games. The Demon Deacons defeated Davidson (4-1) and Oregon (3-2) before falling to 6th-ranked Portland (1-4) in their first loss of the season.
Senior Meghan Suddes led the Deacs against Davidson, scoring two goals in a nine minute span. Rachel Parri added her first career goal while Stacy Roeck scored for the second straight game. Anne Shropshire added two assists in the game, making her Wake Forest's all-time leader in that category (see note below) while Sari Rose started in goal and recorded her second shutout of the season.
In the first round of the Portland/Adidas Invitational, Wake Forest defeated Oregon, 3-2, in overtime. The Deacs jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the second half with goals from Stefanie Mathews and Christie Melby, but Oregon battled back to tie the score with 15 minutes remaining. The game went into overtime with Suddes providing the winning goal just 2:08 into the extra period.
Wake Forest tasted defeat for the first time in 1998 at the hands of 6th-ranked Portland, 4-1, in the second round of the Adidas Invitational. The Pilots jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first half and held the Deacon offense at bay to claim the victory. Wake Forest's lone goal came from Mathews, her second of the week.
SHROPSHIRE ENTERS THE RECORD BOOK
Junior midfielder Anne Shropshire added her name to the Wake Forest record book with her two-assist performance at Davidson. Now with five assists this season, Shropshire has raised her career total to 18 and moved into first place on Wake Forest's career list. The previous record holder was Cheryl Zimmermann who tallied 15 assists from 1994-97.
Shropshire, who led the Deacons in assists last fall, is shooting to break the single season school record of seven, held by four people including herself.
The Lexington, Kty., product now has 38 points in her career, and will likely break the all-time school record in that category this season as well. The current mark was set by Zimmermann who amassed 43 points in her career.
FRESHMEN OF INFLUENCE
Although just five games into the 1998 season, the Wake Forest freshman class has already made its presence felt. The four field players - F Emily Taggart (1 goal, 1 assist), MF Sarah Kate Noftsinger (1 g, 1 a), MF Stacy Roeck (2 gs) and F Rachel Parri (1 g, 1 a) - have accounted for five of the Demon Deacons' 11 goals (45%) this year as well as for three of 10 assists (30%).
GK Erin Regan, too, has made her mark in goal for the Deacs. After sitting out the opener with a strained quad, she started against S. Carolina and allowed just one goal in 120 minutes. She made 14 saves in the Portland tourney.
'98 SCHEDULE AMONG NATION'S BEST
Wake Forest will certainly not be accused of taking on a soft schedule this fall, as head coach Tony da Luz has issued a challenge to his players with one of the toughest schedules in the country. In addition to the always difficult ACC schedule (which currently boasts five teams ranked among the nation's top 20), the Demon Deacons have non-conference matchups with tournaments at No. 6 Portland and No. 2 Notre Dame. Wake Forest also takes on UNC Greensboro, a NCAA Tournament team from a year ago, UNC Charlotte, Kentucky, South Carolina, and LSU.
