Oct. 19, 1999

DEMON DEACON FACTS
1999 Record: 10-3, 3-1 ACC
National Rank: #11 (NSCAA)
Head Coach: Tony da Luz
Record at WF: 34-18-3 (3rd yr)
Career Record: 80-60-6 (8th yr)
Assistant: Kelly Walbert

TWO KEY ACC MATCHES ON TAP FOR DEMON DEACONS THIS WEEKEND
The Wake Forest women's soccer team has a busy weekend ahead, with the Demon Deacons playing two key Atlantic Coast Conference matches on the road. Wake Forest will visit Maryland on Friday at 7 p.m. and then travel to 9th-ranked Virginia on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Demon Deacons are ranked 11th nationally this week by the NSCAA, after posting a 2-1 record last week. The Deacs defeated UNC Charlotte (3-1) and Brown (2-0) and dropped an overtime contest at Duke (3-2). Wake Forest's record now stands at 10-3-0 overall and 3-1-0 in the ACC. The Demon Deacons are currently in third place in the ACC standings, just behind North Carolina (3-0) in the ACC) and Virginia (4-1).

The Deacs are under the guidance of head coach Tony da Luz, the 1998 ACC Coach of the Year.

TAGGART LIGHTS UP THE SCOREBOARD
Dare we say it, but sophomore midfielder Emily Taggart in en fuego. Since missing five games with a sprained MCL, Taggart has made her return to the lineup with authority over the last six games. In those six games, she has scored five goals, including one goal in each of the last four games. Since a slow start to the 1999 season, Taggart has displayed the talent that earned her ACC Rookie of the Year and Freshman All-America honors last year.

DEMON DEACONS CONTINUE IMPRESSIVE RUN IN THE ACC
After winning just four ACC matches in the program's first four years of existence, Wake Forest took a major stride forward last fall when the Demon Deacons posted a 4-3 league record and finished in 4th place in the regular season.

The Deacs have carried that momentum into 1999 by opening the ACC season with three victories (over Clemson, Florida State and NC State). The 3-0 start to the ACC season is obviously the best in school history, and the Deacs currently stand at 3-1 in ACC play.

Now spanning the last two seasons, Wake Forest owns an impressive 7-4 (.636) record against the ACC as opposed to the 4-23 (.148) mark posted in the program's first four years.

ACC STANDINGS (as of 10/18)
   Team             ACC   Overall
1. North Carolina  3-0-0  12-2-0
2. Virginia        4-1-0  11-4-0
3. Wake Forest     3-1-0  10-3-0
4. Maryland        2-1-1   7-7-1
5. Clemson         2-3-0  10-4-1
6. NC State        1-3-1   6-6-1
7. Duke            1-3-0   9-6-0
8. Florida State   0-4-0   8-7-0

INSIDE THE ACC STATISTICS
The Demon Deacons have several players listed among the ACC's statistical leaders. Freshman Lindsey Griffin is tied for 3rd with 6 assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Erin Regan is 1st in save percentage (.909), 2nd in GAA (0.57) and 4th in shutouts. Regan also ranks 13th nationally with her 0.60 GAA. As a team, Wake Forest is ranked 3rd in scoring defense (0.77) and 3rd in scoring offense (2.15) within the ACC.

IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
The Wake Forest women's soccer team is well represented in this week's national polls. The Demon Deacons are ranked 11th in the NSCAA coaches' poll, 10th by Soccer America, 11th by Soccer Buzz magazine, and 13th by Soccer Times - a poll voted on by a panel of 16 coaches across the nation. The 7th place ranking by Soccer America last week represented the highest ranking for the Demon Deacons in school history.

FRESHMEN OF INFLUENCE
Ten games into the 1999 season, the talented Wake Forest freshman class has already asserted itself as a key ingredient during the upcoming season. Five different freshmen have cracked the starting lineup this season, while combining to tally six goals and 13 assists.

Forward Joline Charlton made the biggest impact of the rookie class as she has scored four goals and has five assists to tie for first place on the team with 13 points. Also making the starting 11 this season are defender Liz McDowell, who scored the game-winner at Air Force with under five minutes remaining in regulation, midfielder Lindsey Griffin, a playmaker who has a team-best six assists in 13 games, defender Katie Johnson, with one goal, and defender Gabi Lieb, with one assist.