The Demon Deacons opened their 2026 campaign in style, downing the LSU Tigers 2-0 at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem. The result marked the program’s 40th ranked home win and extended its overall win streak to 72 games, underscoring a period of sustained excellence.
Wake Forest’s home pedigree has become a cornerstone of its identity, posting a 27-3-9 record since 2022 and an 8-0-3 stretch at Spry Stadium that includes a draw with No. 1 Notre Dame. The venue’s atmosphere continues to serve as a formidable advantage for the team.
Sophomore forward Allie Flanagan opened the scoring early, finishing a well‑timed move that set the tone for the match, while Kylie Maxwell added her seventh goal of the season to seal the result. Senior midfielder Dempsey Brown also found the net in the 69th minute, marking her first career goal and highlighting the squad’s depth.
Goalkeeper Valentina Amaral, who entered the game with 14 career shutouts, preserved the clean sheet with a series of key saves, reinforcing confidence in the defensive unit. Her performance exemplified the team’s balanced approach, blending aggressive attacking with disciplined defending.
Coach da Luz praised the squad’s ability to dictate tempo and noted the emergence of new contributors, including Riley Cross, who logged his first assist as a Demon Deacon. The coaching staff emphasized the importance of depth as the schedule progresses.
The match introduced three fresh faces — Riley Cross, Taylor Maxwell and Sofia Atehortua — who all made their debut for the program, signaling a promising infusion of talent that could shape the team’s future performances.
Overall, the display combined offensive firepower with defensive resilience, offering a glimpse of a team poised to contend for top honors in the upcoming schedule.
Looking Forward
With the early win under their belts, the Demon Deacons will travel to face a series of formidable opponents, testing the consistency of their newly forged lineup. The coaching staff remains focused on maintaining defensive solidity while allowing the offense to exploit the depth that has emerged during the first match.