Women's soccer falls to No. 2 Wake Forest, 2-1

[PonyPride]

From SMU athletics:

Mustangs Battle No. 2 Wake Forest But Fall In Home Finale

DALLAS (SMU) — The SMU women's soccer program took No. 2 Wake Forest down to the wire but fell 2-1 on Saturday inside Washburne Stadium.

In the team's final regular season home match of the season, the Mustangs erased an early second-half deficit of the foot of Eliana Salama but the Demon Deacons' late goal with 11 minutes remaining was the difference in the match.

Salama added to her career season high total scoring her eighth goal this season, four of which have occurred during conference action. She leads the team in goals scored this season and is tied for sixth in the conference in total goals.

After being outshot 11-1 in the first half, the Mustangs bounced back in the second half, rattling off 10 shots. SMU also held the advantage in corner kicks, (6-5), marking the second time in ACC action the team has achieved the feat.

Goalkeeper Sierra Cota-Yarde finished the night with five saves, bringing her season total 72 saves. It is the most saves by a goalkeeper in a single season since former Mustang Courtney Webb recorded 100 during the 2010 season.

SMU is now 6-8-2 (2-5-2 ACC) this season, while the Demon Deacons improved to 10-2-2 (5-1-1 ACC) on the year.

// HOW IT HAPPENED
After a defensive first half, Wake Forest broke the scoreless tie in the 47th minute.

Attempting to answer the Demon Deacons' goal, Liz Ebby broke free down the near sideline and sent a cross right to Eliana Salma, who just missed the back of the net from deep inside the box.

Not deterred by her earlier missed opportunity, Salama capitalized on her next one and equalized the match in the 55th minute. She drove down the near side and sent a shot right over top the Wake Forest goalkeeper and bent the ball into the upper left corner.

SMU continued to push the envelope on offense, sending a flurry of shots toward the goal on the following possession, but could not find the back of the net.

In the 75th minute, Wake Forest broke free again, but the SMU backline stood tall yet again as Hali Hartman blocked the team's fourth shot of the night.

However, Wake Forest continued to attack and scored the match-winning goal in the 78th minute.

The first half was a defensive battle as the Mustangs forced the Demon Deacons into tough goal opportunities. Sophie King made the play of the first half, blocking a shot that got past Cota-Yarde and was destined for the back of the net and clearing it away.

The Mustangs blocked multiple shots during the period as fellow defender Abby Hampton denied a rocket right before halftime.

The teams headed to the half tied 0-0 despite SMU surrendering 11 shots.

// OTHER NOTES
No. 2 Wake Forest was the sixth straight-ranked opponent that SMU has faced and the seventh overall, tying the program record (7-1997).
SMU is now 6-5-1 inside Washburne Stadium this season.
In her third season as head coach of the Mustangs, Nicole Nelson is now 27-18-8 overall at SMU.
The Mustangs are now 468-248-61 all-time in program history.