Women’s Soccer: Wake Forest dominates #2 Virginia in posting 3-0 win

Wake Forest took control with three first-half goals, two from Caiya Hanks, on its way to a convincing 3-0 win over second-ranked Virginia at Klöckner Stadium on Sunday.

Wake (6-2-1, 1-1-0 ACC) took the lead in the 17th minute with a redirect from Hanks inside the six. Emily Murphy brought the ball across midfield and attacked down the right side of the box. As she approached the end line, she cut to her left with a pass to Murphy at the top of the six for the redirect to the left of the keeper.

The Demon Deacons doubled the lead off a free kick that was awarded after players got tangled up near the center circle in the 35th minute. Zara Chavosi sent a ball in that was initially deflected by a Virginia defender in the air, but the ball fell to Sierra Sythe near the six, and she finished for the score.

Wake added a third goal a little over two minutes later as Hanks struck in transition off a through ball from Emily Colton. The ball played diagonally allowed Hanks to get behind the defense in stride on the left side, and she finished with the strike across the face of goal and in the side netting past the right post.

The shutout loss is the first for UVA (8-1-0, 1-1-0 ACC) since a 2-0 loss at Wake Forest last September.

“The first half was the difference in the game,” Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. “We didn’t play very well in the first half. We conceded some goals we haven’t normally given up this year, and that was disappointing. We gave the ball away too easily at times and didn’t get enough chances throughout the whole game. We have to take responsibility for that – I certainly do – and bounce back for our next game.”

Up next: Virginia will continue to play at home next weekend with a single game as the Cavaliers host No. 13 Notre Dame on Saturday. Kick is set for 7 p.m. at Klöckner Stadium.