WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina – Sophomore
Serenity Waters (East Coweta H.S./Sharpsburg, Ga.) scored the game-winning goal in the 75th minute as UNCW extended its win streak to six consecutive games by edging Wake Forest, 2-1, in the Seahawks' non-conference finale at Spry Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Seahawks, who defeated the Demon Deacons for the second straight year, improved to 7-3-0 on the season while Wake Forest had its brief two-game win streak snapped while dropping to 4-3-2.
"This was another great team effort against a very good Wake Forest team," Coach
Paul Cairney said. "I felt the game could have gone either way. Scoring first away from home definitely settled us into the game.
"Wake Forest threw a lot at us," Cairney added. "Our back four and Carolyn were tremendous for us again today. Huddy made some big saves for us late in the game to protect the lead."
With 15:45 remaining, sophomore
Savannah Andrews (James River H.S./Midlothian, Va.) sent a crossing pass into the penalty area where Waters one-timed a shot past Wake Forest freshman goalkeeper
Nonie Frishette (Mira Costa H.S./Hermosa Beach, Calif.) for her first goal of the season.
UNCW took an early 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when senior defender
Morgan Leyble (Jacksonville H.S./Jacksonville, N.C.) knocked in her first goal of the year off assists from senior midfielder
Lindsey Byrne (W.A. Hough H.S./Charlotte, N.C.) and junior midfielder
Moa Jarl (Gothenburg, Sweden).
The Seahawks held the advantage until the start of the second half when sophomore forward
Sarah Medina (Palmer Trinity School/Miami, Fla.) evened the score at 1-1 when she took a long through pass and beat junior goalkeeper
Carolyn Huddy (Lake Norman H.S./Huntersville, N.C.) for her fourth goal of the season.
The Demon Deacons had four chances to tie the game in the final 12 minutes, but Huddy made three of her season-high eight saves, including a save with four seconds remaining after the Seahawks were called for a foul.
Wake Forest outshot UNCW by a 19-12 margin, including an 11-3 advantage in the second half.
"Wake Forest is a really hard team to play against and they have some fantastic athletes," Cairney said. "I am very proud of our team for getting this win on the road. We will turn our focus to Drexel now as league play begins on Friday and we need to get the three points [in the standings]."
#SeahawkStats: UNCW is 2-0-1 in the last three meetings against Wake Forest … The Demon Deacons still lead the all-time series by a 6-2-1 margin … UNCW posted its first win over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent in three games this season … The Seahawks lost at Clemson and Virginia in August … The Seahawks' six-game win streak is their longest since a school-record nine consecutive victories to open the 2004 season … During the six-game win streak, the Seahawks have outscored their opponents by a 13-2 margin … UNCW had not allowed a goal in 369 minutes, 30 seconds prior to Wake Forest's second half goal … Huddy moved into a tie for sixth place on the Seahawks' all-time list with her 15th career win … Waters became the sixth different UNCW player to record a game-winning goal this year … The Seahawks have matched their win total from last year when they posted a 7-9-2 record.
Up Next for the Seahawks: UNCW opens Colonial Athletic Association play next weekend with a pair of contests at the UNCW Soccer Stadium. The Seahawks will host Drexel in the conference opener on Friday night before a Sunday afternoon matinee against Delaware.
College Women's Soccer: UNCW 2, Wake Forest 1UNCW 1-1 / 2
Wake Forest 0-1 / 1
Goals: UNCW –
Morgan Leyble (10:33),
Serenity Waters (74:15); WF – Sarah Medina (49:13).
Assists: UNCW –
Lindsey Byrne,
Moa Jarl,
Savannah Andrews; WF – Kendal Robino.
Saves: UNCW –
Carolyn Huddy 8 (90:00, 1 goals allowed); WF – Nonie Frishette 4 (90:00, 2 goals allowed).
Shots: UNCW – 12; WF – 19.
Corner Kicks: UNCW – 4; WF – 4.
Attendance: 672.
