By Daniel Susann | @dsus_sus
Thirty-three games are in the books for ACC women’s squads after Week 1. Atlantic Coast teams lost just four matches, with an overall record of 20-4-8. In contests versus power conference opponents, they finished with a record of 4-3-4.
With all that, what did we learn during Week 1?
Wake is awoken
The No. 18 ranked Demon Deacons were not fooling around when designing their schedule, opening the fall with matches versus notable squads. First taking on No. 18 LSU, and then South Carolina, who received four United Soccer Coaches Poll votes, Wake Forest dismantled both. Keeping both sheets clean with a 5-0 goal differential, the Deacons relied on a wide breadth of talent with five different goal scorers to claim the victories.
The Deacons will continue to play competent competition and continue their home stand as they host Iowa on Aug. 20 at 5 p.m.
Significant results:
8/12
Samford 0 – No. 2 Notre Dame 0
Miami 0 – Jacksonville 2
Northwestern 1 – No. 11 Virginia 3
No. 25 Clemson 0 – Auburn 0
Nebraska 3 – Louisville 1
No. 16 LSU 0 – No. 18 Wake Forest 2
SMU 3 – No. 5 Vanderbilt 4
No. 3 Duke 3 – USC 1
8/16
No. 17 Ohio State 0 – No. 25 Clemson 0
Penn State 2 – No. 2 Notre Dame 2
South Carolina 0 – No. 18 Wake Forest 3
No. 3 Duke 1 – No. 9 UCLA 1
Notre Dame with sluggish start
The Fighting Irish came into the season as a powerhouse, ranked No. 2 nationally, returning three players who earned All-ACC honors including 2025 ACC Offensive Player of the Year Izzy Engle.
So when Notre Dame opened the season with a 0-0 draw with Samford, followed by a 2-2 draw with Penn State, it definitely raised some eyebrows. Should there be concern in South Bend? Probably not. But it ain’t a great look for a team looking to move on from its disappointing Round of 32 exit last season.
The Fighting Irish search for their first win as they head to Lincoln to take on Nebraska on Aug. 20 at 8:05 p.m.
Other storylines:
-SMU could be a possible sleeper squad after testing No. 5 Vanderbilt 3-4, conceding late penalty (88’)
-No. 8 North Carolina scores 12 goals in first two matches, soon to face stiff competition
-No. 3 Duke finds moderate success in trip to Los Angeles (3-1 versus USC, 1-1 versus No. 9 UCLA)
-NC State dominates JMU and VCU with most goals in first two matches since 2010
-Miami stumbles versus Jacksonville 0-2 but bounces back versus FAU 3-0
-No. 25 Clemson with 0 goals for, 0 allowed in first two matches
