By Alex Botoman, Wake Forest Media Relations (@SIDeacons)
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Ally Berry dished out a career-high two assists and Rachel Nuzzolese buried a penalty kick for the game-winning goal as No. 3 Wake Forest downed Richmond 4-1 in its season opener Friday as part of the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.
"Richmond is a great opponent, and they put us under a lot of pressure," said head coach Tony da Luz. "It was a good early-season test, and we had a couple great goals there at the end to seal the game.
Berry assisted on Wake Forest's opening score in the 27th minute, setting up Kristen Meier for an easy tap-in and also earned an assist on the Demon Deacons' third goal in the 85th minute, pushing a shot toward goal that was blocked before freshman Katie Dry buried the rebound.
Nuzzolese netted the game-winning penalty kick 39th minute, and Kim Marshall closed out the scoring in the 87th minute, heading a Nuzzolese corner past Richmond goalkeeper Andrea Young.
Including the penalty kick, three of Wake Forest's goals were products of set pieces.
"(Scoring on set pieces) is something that we want to do all season, especially this first half when Katie (Stengel) is gone," said da Luz. "We got to a lot of corner kicks today and were close to (scoring), and at the end of the game we did a really good job finishing on those two corners."
With a goal and an assist, Nuzzolese recorded the eighth multi-point game of her career, while Berry's two assists gave her a third career multi-point performance.
Dry wasted no time in opening her account at Wake Forest and is the first Demon Deacon to score in her collegiate debut since 2010 when Nuzzolese and Katie Stengel accomplished the feat. She was joined in making her first appearance for the Deacs by fellow freshmen Jenai Davidson and Taylor Waters.
Aubrey Bledsoe played the entire game in net for the Deacons, allowing one goal on the Spiders' only shot on target in the contest.
Meghan Hayden was Richmond's goal-scorer, finding the back of the net in the 65th minute off of an assist by Leighanne Baxter.
Kristen Meier opened the scoring for the Deacons in the 27th minute on a play that was set up by some pretty passing. An India Winford throw-in sent Marisa Park free down the right side, and Park played a low cross across the box to Ally Berry. Berry nudged the ball on to Meier who was wide open in front of the net, and the senior from Alpharetta, Ga. tapped it in for an easy goal.
"I had the easy part (on the goal)," said Meier. "Marisa did a great job beating her player down the line. It came after a great possession buildup, which is always great for our team. (Park) played it across the box, Ally did what she could redirecting it, and I was just there, lucky, to put it in."
In the 39th minute, a Spider defender shoved down Riley Ridgik in the box during a corner kick giving Wake Forest a penalty kick. Rachel Nuzzolese calmly stepped up to the spot and slotted the shot home to give the Demon Deacons a 2-0 advantage.
With 30 minutes remaining in the second half, freshmen Jenai Davidson, Katie Dry and Taylor Waters all checked into the game to earn their first collegiate action.
The Spiders pulled one back in the 65th minute as Meghan Hayden beat her defender after taking a pass from Leighanne Baxter and finished into an open net.
The Demon Deacon advantage was restored to two goals in the 85th minute. Berry chested a Nuzzolese corner kick towards goal and while the attempt was blocked, Dry was waiting on the doorstep to bury the rebound.
Marshall added on an insurance goal only 1:35 later with a firm near-post header off a Nuzzolese corner kick that found the twine.
The Demon Deacons will continue play in the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational on Sunday when they take on UNC Wilmington at noon.
