The Wake Forest women's soccer team wasn't about to let this chance to play in the College Cup slip by.
The Deacons rolled to a 3-0 victory against Central Florida on Friday night in an NCAA quarterfinal at Spry Stadium, securing their first trip to college soccer's final four.
Wake Forest will play Duke at 7:30 p.m. next Friday in the semifinals in Kennesaw, Ga.
Wake Forest reached the quarterfinals in 2009, but lost 5-2 at North Carolina. Senior Jordan Feger, a valuable substitute this season, was with the team for that disappointing loss.
"In '09, it wasn't even a close game, so this is just awesome to come out with a win and to have this opportunity we haven't had before," said Feger, who had an assist on the second goal to give the Deacons breathing room.
Applying pressure from every direction, the Deacons spread out the Knights, waited for their chances and took advantage. Their three goals came on just eight shots.
"I think it's a reward to have an opportunity to win the national championship," said coach Tony da Luz, who is in his 15th season with the Deacons. "We've done everything we've had to do to control our own destiny, and I guess we honored our No. 1 seeding. Now it's just two games, and we've got to perform. We're not done yet."
The Deacons (18-3-4) scored in the 28th minute when Alisha Woodson dug a ball out of the corner and blasted it to the center of the field. Woodson's pass deflected slightly off teammate Kristen Meier, and Katie Stengel was there to blast it in from 12 yards for a 1-0 lead.
It was the 19th goal of the season for Stengel, a sophomore, and the 35th of her career, good for second in program history.
"Alisha on that first goal she just absolutely manufactured it," da Luz said. "She just kept at it and kept at it and got that cross in there out of nothing. That's what it takes, and that's what this team is about."
Meier made it 2-0 in the 41st minute, taking a pass from Jackie McSally and scoring from 6 yards. Feger set up that goal, battled for possession on the outside, then regained possession and hit McSally going down the left side.
Feger and McSally entered as substitutes shortly before the goal.
"When I went in I just told myself I was going to do my best and keep up the pressure defensively and try to stay relaxed and composed on the ball," Feger said. "I think before I passed that ball to McSally it was Jackie Logue who told me to 'Go for it, make a play' and just that encouragement got me going."
Once the Deacons had the lead, their defense — with a back line anchored by freshman Kim Marshall — did the rest. Keeper Aubrey Bledsoe had her 14th shutout of the season, adding to her school record with five saves against 12 shots.
"It's unreal," Marshall said. "It's a great feeling, and I came on to this team, and I thought we'd do really well, but this is surprising. I mean, I've watched the College Cup all these years, and I never thought we'd be there, and here we are."
The Knights (13-5-6) were trying to reach their second College Cup. They made the final four in 1987 when their star was Michelle Akers.
Coach Amanda Cromwell said the Deacons made the right moves and credited the defense.
"This defense is one of the best we've faced all year," said Cromwell, whose team lost 1-0 to Wake Forest in the regular season.
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