BLACKSBURG, Va. – A two-goal performance from Katie Stengel helped No. 16 Wake Forest to a 4-1 win over Vanderbilt in the opening game of the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.

Stengel scored Wake Forest’s first two goals, marking the first multi-goal game of her young career and the third straight game in which she has scored the Deacons’ game-winning goal. The reigning ACC Player of the Week is tied for the team lead with five goals this season.

The Deacons improve to 5-1 on the year while the Commodores fall to 3-2.

Two Wake Forest freshmen recorded their first career point in the contest, as Cheyenne Biehl picked up the Deacons’ fourth goal and Jackie McSally assisted on the third Deacon goal which was scored by Rachel Nuzzolese. Nuzzolese is tied with Stengel for the team lead with five goals, and the two are the only freshman duo in the ACC to lead their team in scoring.

Aubrey Bledsoe earned her fifth win of the season in goal for the Deacons, playing the first 80:29 of the game and making three saves. Senior Amanda Barasha saw her first action of the season in net, playing the final 9:31.

Overall, the Deacons outshoot the Commodores 15-7 and put 10 shots on frame compared to only four for Vandy.

Wake Forest outshot Vanderbilt 9-2 in the opening period, but were unable to get a goal

Vanderbilt had the first chances in the third minute when Candace West’s shot was blocked and Molly Kinsella’s follow-up attempt was blocked.

The Deacs would dominate the rest of the period. Jackie Logue, Amanda Howell and Stengel all put shots on frame, but Commodore goalkeeper Rachel Bachtel was equal to the task each time.

Katie Stengel scored the first goal for the Deacons in the 49th minute, dribbling in from the right putting a shot over the keeper and into the back of the net.

Vandy’s Nicole Adams put a header on goal in the 67th minute, but Bledsoe was there to make the save and preserve the Deacon lead.

CJ Rhodes tied the game at 1-1 for Vanderbilt off a corner kick in the 67th minute when she found the ball during a scramble in the box and put it into the right side of the net.

Stengel answered back for the Deacons only five minutes later, gathering a loose ball off a corner kick and hooking it into the left side of the net to put Wake Forest ahead 2-1.

Nuzzolese extended the Demon Deacon lead to 3-1 in the 75th minute when she took a pass in traffic from McSally and beat the goalie from 15 yards.

Biehl scored her first career goal to make the Wake Forest advantage 4-1, gathering a loose ball off a corner kick and burying a shot into the back of the net.

Barasha made her season debut in goal after the Biehl goal, but was not forced to make a save in the final 9:31.

The Deacons will continue play in the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. when they take on Villanova.