Wake Forest Holds Off Women's Soccer Team, 4-2

RALEIGH, N.C. – No. 18 Wake Forest held off a furious NC State comeback this afternoon for a 4-2 victory in ACC women’s soccer action at Method Road on Thursday.

After Wake Forest (10-5-3, 5-2-2 ACC) took a 2-0 first half lead, the Wolfpack was poised to make a comeback. Freshman Nadia Aboulhosn brought NC State (6-9-3, 0-7-1 ACC) right back into the match with her third goal of the year at the 28:06 mark.

Junior Lindsay Vera began the play when she lofted a pass from the left of the goal that found the foot of Chantalle Dugas. She continued the play onto Aboulhosn, who one-timed her shot from 15-yards out into the back of the net.

Both sides battled throughout the remainder of the opening half and the Demon Deacons took a slim 2-1 lead into halftime.

Freshman Kara Baldy was inserted into the lineup five minutes into the second half and that move made dividends seven minutes later when she scored the equalizer in the 58^th minute.

Vera was again part of the Pack’s attack when she moved the ball into the 18-yard box and when two Wake defenders charged at her, she flicked a pass that Baldy buried into the net for her third marker of the season.

Just 17 seconds later, Wake broke through the NC State defense to retake the lead, 3-2. Allie Sadow sailed a cross toward net that senior Laura Colven got a piece of for her first career goal.

WFU's Maggie Horne scored the first goal of the match in the fifth minute when the Wolfpack’s defense had a communication breakdown that allowed the hard-charging Horne to score from the 10-yard mark that slipped past goalkeeper Rachel Barnette.

Camelyn Dillon set up Sadow's goal in the 22nd minute to put the Deacs up 2-0. Dillon completed a cross from 30-yards out that Sadow found and ripped her shot just inside the penalty area.

Sarah Winslow added to the final Deacon tally, teaming up with Amy Smerdzinski to set the final mark at 4-2.

Barnette made four saves in net for the Pack, while Laura Morse and Amanda Barasha each played 45 minutes and combined for three saves.

Before the match, NC State honored senior captain Jessica O’Rourke with a brief ceremony for her dedication to the program over the past four years. She has compiled 10 goals and 10 assists in 69 career matches played.

NC State wraps up its season on the road at Maryland on Sunday at 1 pm.

SCORING SUMMARY:

4:18 WF Maggie Horne (2) (unassisted)

21:23 WF Allie Sadow (4) (Camelyn Dillon)

28:06 ST Nadia Aboulhosn (3) (Chantalle Dugas; Lindsay Vera)

57:38 ST Kara Baldy (3) (Lindsay Vera; Nadia Aboulhosn)

57:55 WF Laura Colven (1) (Allie Sadow)

78:22 WF Sarah Winslow (3) (Amy Smerdzinski)

Shots: Wake Forest 11, NC State 8

Saves: Wake Forest 3 (Laura Morse 1; Amanda Barasha 2), NC State 4 (Rachel Barnette 4)