July 16, 2001

Wake Forest enters the 2001 season with great hopes and high expectations. All but one starter returns from a Demon Deacon squad that took second in the ACC and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Head coach Tony da Luz begins his fifth season, complimenting his first recruiting class at Wake, that now enters their senior year, with a outstanding core group of freshmen.

"We have great depth," said da Luz. "We will be in a better position to go deeper in to the NCAA Tournament with that depth. Our schedule is our toughest schedule ever and it should prepare us very well."

The Demon Deacons have been to the NCAA Tournament five straight years and have advanced as far as the third round in 1999. Da Luz makes no secret of the fact that his best way to prepare his team for the postseason is to play the best teams in the country. The 2001 slate features nine top 25 teams and of course the challenging conference lineup. 2001 Schedule

"We expect some tough away games," said da Luz. "We play at North Carolina, Duke and Virginia this year, so those games will be critical as far as our place in the ACC. Our goal is to win the regular season title. Our upperclassmen have so much experience that I think we're in a better position than ever and we'll make a run at it."

The senior class is da Luz's first recruiting class at Wake Forest and they have put together a lot of experience.

"They have played literally 90 percent of every game in the four years they've been here, so they have great confidence," said da Luz. "They have played in so many big games that they have the experience to lead us to great things. They are preparing so hard for this last year. They are the first of many, many great senior classes to come."

Perhaps even better than da Luz's first class of Deacs is his last.

"From a depth standpoint this class is the best we've ever had," da Luz said. "It is a quality group and we expect them to make an impact."

Another newcomer to the Demon Deacons this year is assistant coach Meghan Suddes. Filling the void left from four-year assistant Kelly Cagle, who resigned last spring to play professionally for the Atlanta Beat in the WUSA. Suddes, a former player at Wake Forest joins assistant coach Skip Thorp to complete da Luz's cabinet.

"From a continuity standpoint Skip's status has changed to full-time," da Luz said. "Losing Kelly (Cagle) after four years is difficult, but bringing Meghan (Suddes) in gives us a good level of continuity because she played for me for four years, two at USD and two here. She knows the system, knows what I expect and she brings a lot of positive energy. I am really happy with our staff and we're in a great position. The players are really lucky to have the coaching staff that they have."

Committed to winning, da Luz will more than likely reach his 100th career victory this season, as he enters his 10th year with a 97-52-9 overall record (.759). He has averaged 11 wins a season and 12 wins a year in four years at Wake Forest.

"We've continued to improve every year and that shows consistency," said da Luz. "We've made the NCAA Tournament five years in a row and have improved in every aspect. That is what I'm most proud of, the consistency. I take a great deal of pride in last year's team, in that despite the injuries and illnesses, we had good wins, we were able to make it to the NCAA Tournament, we had our highest finish in the ACC ever and we had good wins with a makeshift team. That is just a good sign of our program."

In Net

Last year Wake Forest lost both goalkeepers to season-ending knee injuries before the season even began, forcing the Deacs to hold an intrasquad tryout for goalie. Reserve defender Tracy Chao, with no prior goalkeeping experience, stepped up and tended goal for the entire season. This season Chao returns, but will probably backup All-ACC goalkeeper Erin Regan and redshirt freshman Kenna Healy, who are back and anxious to get in net.

"First of all we have three goalkeepers coming into camp," said da Luz, "counting Tracy Chao, who will train both in net and on the field too. Right off our depth at the position is much better. Having a first-team All-ACC goalkeeper in Erin Regan gives your backline of defense a lot of confidence. Tracy (Chao) did a great job last year, but having Erin (Regan) back there just gives you more confidence. She's the kind of keeper that will make big saves in big games.

"We're expecting Kenna (Healy) to recover fully from her knee surgery," da Luz continued. "Her physical potential is phenomenal. We're excited about seeing her back on the field. As a backup, Chao obviously gained a great deal of big game experience last year and will be there if called upon."

Defense

A skilled and powerful Demon Deacon defense that only allowed opponents 1.4 goals-per-game last season returns its complete unit and adds some.

"All our defenders are returning and we'll more than likely keep Stacy (Roeck) as an outside back so that she can attack," said da Luz. "Liz (McDowell) moved to central in the spring and she really matured and did a great job. We think that she will be our defensive leader. We moved A.B. (Robbins) to outside in the spring and served some great balls and got into the attack. Roxanne (Chow) is a solid defender. If she fully recovers she may play outside or centrally.

"April Raymer could potentially play," da Luz continued." Meagan Mullins, Tracy Chao and Lisa Senecal could see time. Even Katherine Winstead, who played there a few times last year, could play. Melissa Murray-Hobbs could play back or midfield, As a unit, I feel strong about our defense."

Midfield

Potentially the most dangerous component of the Demon Deacon squad this season is the midfield. A culmination of athleticism, savvy ball-handling skills, defensive quickness and offensive firepower makes the controlled movement of the ball through the middle of the field almost artistic.

"We return Katie Johnson, Katherine Winstead, Lindsey Griffin, Alena Thom, Gabi Lieb and Melissa Murray-Hobbs in the midfield," said da Luz. "It is definitely our deepest position. Sara Kate Noftsinger had a great year last year and a great spring. She will will play up top as an attacking midfielder. Joline Charlton played attacking midfielder last year and could play there again this year. Winstead gives us height and dominates the air.

"If Allison Hunt fully recovers, she could compete for a spot in the central midfield," continued da Luz. "April Raymer could compete for a starting spot out wide. Courtney McCrudden is expected to compete for a starting spot out left in an attacking role. Lindsey Griffin could be key if she fully recovers. She could be an ace in the hole for us. Kathleen Andrews had an unbelievable senior year of high school, scoring four game-winning goals through the playoffs to the championship. She could see time out wide."

Forward

Same guns are facing forward this year as the year before, only they have become better and they have added ammunition.

"Joline Charlton and Emily Taggart are our top returning scorers," said da Luz. "They give us incredible physical pressure and speed up top. Winstead could see some time as a target forward. She gives us lots of range with her size and ability to hold the ball. Griffin could spend some time up front. McCrudden could also spend time up top. All those players can score goals.

"Sara Creighton, who may be small, but she may compete for time up front," continued da Luz. "Thom improved throughout her freshman year and continuing through the spring. She will probably start - maybe up front, maybe outside mid. She is so tenacious and is very fast."

The Demon Deacons are anxious to begin the season and to see how far they can go because Wake Forest is ready to kick it into high gear.

Some Quick Notes On Wake Forest 2001 Women's Soccer

* 14 letterwinners return and only three are lost from last year

* 10 starters return and only one is lost from last year's team

* 97 percent of the scoring (37 of 38 goals scored) returns from last season

* The Demon Deacons' recruiting class was ranked in the top 25 in the nation according to Soccer Buzz

* Three-time All-ACC and three-time All-Region senior forward Emily Taggart needs seven goals to tie and eight to become the all-time leading scorer in school history

* Junior midfielder Lindsey Griffin returns after scoring five goals in eight games last year before suffering season ending knee injury

* First-Team All-ACC goalkeeper Erin Regan returns as redshirt junior after missing last season with knee injury

* Two-time All-ACC junior forward Joline Charlton scored 8 goals before missing entire postseason with mononucleosis

* Head Coach Tony da Luz needs three wins to reach 100 career victories

* Wake Forest has made the NCAA Tournament the last five seasons

* Wake Forest will host the ACC Championship at Spry Stadium (Nov. 8-11) this season for the second time