CARY, N.C. – Competing in the 2024 Women’s College Cup on Friday night, No. 14 Stanford (16-5-2) fell 1-0 to No. 3 Wake Forest (16-3-4) in a semifinal match from WakeMed Soccer Park.
The Cardinal nearly opened the scoring in the 30th minute as Andrea Kitahata volleyed a shot to the near post following a Stanford corner. Wake Forest goalkeeper Valentina Amaral dove to her right and directed the shot off the post where it bounced back toward the goal line but stayed out of the net.
The two teams went into the halftime break scoreless, with Wake Forest posting a slim 4-3 advantage in shots through the first 45 minutes.
Emily Morris finally broke the stalemate in the 73rd minute for the Demon Deacons, lofting a shot just out of the reach of Haley Craig in goal. Craig got her mitts on the shot and slowed it down, but the ball trickled over the goal line before Elise Evans could clear it from danger.
Craig was ultimately credited with three saves, including a tremendous diving stop on a shot from Caiya Hanks to keep the deficit at one in the 82nd minute.
Wake Forest will advance to play the winner of Duke and North Carolina in the national final on Monday at 4 p.m. PT.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, Lizzie Boamah and Allie Montoya were named to the Women's College Cup All-Tournament team.
GAME NOTES:
• The Cardinal made its 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance, including its 26th in the last 27 seasons … has compiled a 73-25-9 record in NCAA Tournament play … made its 12th appearance in the College Cup, including its second in as many seasons after finishing as the national runner-up a year ago … eleven of Stanford’s 12 College Cup appearances have come since 2008
• The Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe owns a 62-15-6 record in postseason action while at Stanford, having guided the Cardinal to the NCAA Tournament in 21 of his 22 seasons
• Stanford was shut out for the third time this season
• The Cardinal managed a 6-3 advantage in corner kicks in the match, while Wake Forest played to a 12-7 advantage in total shots