WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Katie Stengel scored her school-record tying 14th goal of the season as the Wake Forest women’s soccer team earned its most impressive win of the season – a 2-1 triumph over No. 6 Maryland on Thursday at Spry Stadium.

 

The Demon Deacons improve to 11-5-1 (4-2-1 ACC) while the Terrapins fall to 12-2-1 (5-2-1 ACC). Wake Forest has now won five straight games against Maryland, and victory over the Terps marked the highest-ranked opponent that the Deacs have defeated since they earned a 3-0 win over No. 5 Florida State on Oct. 8, 2009.

 

“I’m so happy. The kids played the game plan almost to perfection,” said head coach Tony da Luz. “I thought we passed the ball pretty well tonight and created some good chances. They are a very solid all-around team. I couldn’t be happier with the performance and the result.”

 

Stengel scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal for Wake Forest in the 64th minute, when she collected a lob out of the midfield from Bianca D’Agostino and cheekily chipped onrushing Maryland goalkeeper Yewande Balogun. With 14 goals this season, Stengel tied Jill Hutchinson’s 14-goal performance in 2009 for the Wake Forest single-season goal-scoring record. The Melbourne, Fla. native is only one point away from tying the Wake Forest single-season points record.

 

“I don’t know how (Stengel) got between those two defenders and had the savvy to lift the ball over the keeper. It’s just instinct for her,” said da Luz. “She’s dangerous anywhere around the box and that’s something that you can’t coach.”

 

Marisa Park scored the opening goal for the Demon Deacons in the 33rd minute shortly after entering the game, taking a pass from Jordan Feger and shooting the ball past the keeper from 16 yards. The sophomore has scored three goals this season and recorded five points in her last three games. Feger earned an assist on the play in her first start of the season.

 

“(Park) made a huge difference in the game,” said da Luz. “When she came in, she held the ball really well and made some really good decisions, right away giving us some really good scoring opportunities. She’s becoming a really reliable sub and is a good complement to Katie (Stengel) because she’s a bit of a playmaker.”

 

Aubrey Bledsoe made four saves while earning her 11th win of the season, including a diving stop on a blistering Sade Ayinde free kick in the 77th minute.

 

“That was unbelievable,” said da Luz, referring to Bledsoe’s save on the set piece. “We knew going in that Ayinde could smack a ball. That free kick was only 23 yards out and she hit it towards the post, and Aubrey made a huge save. I thought she was solid throughout the night in dealing with the free kicks into the box.”

 

The two teams played a fairly even game with Maryland holding a slight 5-4 advantage in shots on frame. The Terps’ only goal game in the 73rd minute on a volley from Ashley Grove off of a corner kick.

 

Maryland’s frustration came to a head in the 90th minute when two Terrapins were shown red cards. Domenica Hodak was given her marching orders with a second yellow card issued for a tactical foul, with Grove being shown a straight red card in the aftermath of the play.

 

The Deacons scored on their only first shot of the game as Marisa Park took a pass from Jordan Feger in the 33rd minute and beat the keeper from 16 yards to give Wake Forest a 1-0 lead.

 

Wake Forest doubled its lead in the 65th minute, as Stengel collected a long lob from D’Agostino and fought through two Maryland defenders before chipping Balogun.

 

Maryland pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute as Ayinde served a ball across the box after a short corner that Grove volleyed from 10 yards.

 

Wake Forest will face another top 10 foe in No. 9 Boston College on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Spry Stadium. The contest will be the Deacons’ annual “Kick for the Cure” match. The Deacs will wear pink jerseys that will be auctioned off to raise money for breast cancer awareness and research.

 

“We could feel it from the crowd tonight. The girls want to look up there and see people in the stands,” said da Luz. “I think the kids will draw some confidence from this game for sure.”