Wake Forest Women Fall to Duke in ACC Tournament

The third-seeded Demon Deacons lost 5-4 to sixth-seeded Duke, while the men's team fell 1-0 to NC State in extra time.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Soccer

Wake Forest Women Fall to Duke in ACC Tournament

Wake Forest's women's soccer team lost 5-4 to Duke in the ACC Tournament, with Mia Minestrella converting a penalty kick in the 92nd minute for the game-winner. In the same tournament, Wake Forest's men's team lost 1-0 to NC State after a scoreless 90 minutes.

Why it matters

Both losses end the Demon Deacons' conference tournament runs and shape their positioning for the NCAA Tournament. The women's team's slim margin and the men's extra-time defeat leave both squads hoping their résumés carry them into the field.

Wake Forest men finished with a 11-5-3 overall record against NC State's 7-5-6 mark, and goalkeeper Owen Barnett made five saves in the scoreless 90 minutes. The women's team's 5-4 loss to Duke came after a back-and-forth match in which Wake Forest led 2-0 before Duke rallied.

The players

Wake Forest Demon Deacons

The Winston-Salem university's athletic program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference and fields both the men's and women's soccer teams in this story.

Duke Blue Devils

Duke University's athletic program, a perennial power in the Atlantic Coast Conference, defeated Wake Forest's women's team in this match.

NC State Wolfpack

North Carolina State University's athletic program, based in Raleigh, won the men's ACC Tournament first-round game over Wake Forest.

The details

Kylie Maxwell scored Wake Forest's first goal in the 22nd minute of the women's match, and Allie Flanagan added a second to give the Demon Deacons a 2-0 lead. Duke led 3-2 in the 65th minute before Sammi Wiemann tied the game at 3, and Minestrella's penalty kick in the 92nd minute decided it.

Nov. 8, 2026: Wake Forest men lost 1-0 to NC State and women lost 5-4 to Duke in the ACC Tournament.
Nov. 16, 2026 at 4 p.m.: NCAA Tournament selection show; pairings announced.

Season Trajectory

Both Wake Forest losses trim the team's margin for error as the NCAA selection committee weighs conference tournament results against regular-season records. The Nov. 16 bracket reveal will show whether the Demon Deacons earn at-large consideration or host status.

Wake Forest's postseason outlook now depends on the selection committee's view of its ACC Tournament exits and season résumé. Fans following the bracket should watch the Nov. 16 reveal for whether the Demon Deacons host a first-round match in Winston-Salem.

The takeaway

A single penalty kick or extra-time goal can decide an entire season in conference play, and the NCAA selection process will weigh each result carefully. Watch the Nov. 16 bracket for how the committee values Wake Forest's tournament exits.

What happens next

The NCAA Tournament selection show airs Nov. 16 at 4 p.m., when pairings will be announced and Wake Forest could learn whether it hosts a first-round game.