Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacons Host Virginia
9/14/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 14, 2000
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#5 WAKE FOREST demon deacons (2-2) vs. #17 VIRGINIA cavaliers (3-2)
Date: September 16, 2000
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Stadium: Spry Stadium (3,000)
Coaches: Wake Forest coach Jay Vidovich is in his seventh season at the helm of the Deacs. He has an overall record of 69-45-9.
George Gelnovatch is in his fifth year at Virginia. He has an overall record of 62-28-10.
Series: UVa leads the all-time series 21-2-3.
Last Meeting: Virginia 2, Wake Forest 1
(11/12/99 at Wake Forest)
WF Website: www.wakeforestsports.com
UVa Website: www.virginiasports.com
Wake Forest begins quest for ACC title against Virginia on Saturday night
The Demon Deacons (2-2) open ACC play with a meeting against Virginia (3-2) at Spry Stadium at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both teams have suffered two early non-conference losses.
The Cavaliers dropped a pair of 2-1 games to South Carolina and Indiana.
The Deacs fell to St. John's in overtime and was upset on the road by Liberty on Tuesday night.
Those losses are in both teams' rear view mirrors as the ACC season starts on Saturday with the conference opener for both teams.
Series history: Cavs and Deacs
Dating back to 1980, the all-time series history between Virginia and Wake Forest is one-sided with the Cavaliers holding a 21-2-3 lead.
The last Wake Forest win came in 1991 in Charlottesville, Va.
In recent history, however, the Deacons have given UVa plenty of trouble. Two of the last five games have been ties and three have been decided by one goal.
The two games in 1999 were physical battles with the two teams combining for 94 fouls in two games.
In the regular season, Wake traveled to Charlottesville and came away with a 1-1 tie. Bobby Gehring scored the goal for Wake.
The teams met at Spry Stadium in the ACC semifinals. The Cavaliers took a 2-0 lead less than two minutes into the half. Chris Lonteen's goal cut the lead in half but it wasn't enough as the Virginia, the seven seed, reached the tournament finals.
Last time out
Unranked and 0-3 Liberty shocked the Deacs by taking a 3-0 lead midway through the second half.
Wake put up a fight, scoring two goals in a comeback, but couldn't put out the fire as the Liberty Flames went on to upset the Deacs, 4-2, in Lynchburg, Va., on Tuesday.
Adam Hakes and Vicente Bastidas scored the goals for the Deacs in the loss.
Connect Four
Ben Stafford hasn't wasted any time in attempting to reclaim his place among the top goal scorers in the ACC.
Although held without a point against the Flames, Stafford scored four goals in the team's first three games, including the gamewinning tallies against UConn and UNC Greensboro. Stafford also registered the first game-tying goal against St. John's.
Stafford was the team's leading goal scorer in '99 with eight. Of those, six were game-winning or game-tying goals. Stafford netted the deciding goals against Coastal Carolina, Vanderbilt, UNC Greensboro, High Point, North Carolina and in the NCAA tournament against Virginia Commonwealth.
The friendly confines . . .
All seven regular season home games in 2000 will be played under the lights at Spry Stadium. During the '99 season, 29,622 fans saw the Deacons earn a 10-2-3 mark at home, including the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. In the ACC quarters, 4,722 fans packed Spry to see Wake defeat NC State.
The Deacs on their home opener 2-1 against UNC Greensboro on Sept. 8.
For the third straight season, the ACC Championship will be determined at Spry Stadium. Wake Forest hosts the 2000 ACC Championships on Nov. 9-12.
Scouting the Cavaliers
Fifth-year coach George Gelnovatch brings a 3-2 Virginia team to Spry Stadium that is ranked as high as 11th (Soccer America). The Cavaliers are coming off a 4-1 Wednesday win over Northeastern.
Virginia suffered a pair of 2-1 defeats last weekend to South Carolina and Indiana at the Fila Soccer Classic at Maryland.
The Cavaliers finished seventh in the conference last season but defeated Wake Forest in the ACC semifinals before losing to top-seed Duke in four overtimes.
Ten starters return from their '99 squad including ACC Rookie of the Year, midfielder Kyle Martino.
The Cavaliers have received a big boost from freshman Alecko Eskandarian. The 5-8 forward has scored seven points in the early going, including three goals.
Virginia has employed a balanced attack with eight different players accounting for 16 goals.
Gelnovatch has not settled on a full-time goalkeeper through five games. Three players have seen time in the cage with a pair of sophomores, Kyle Singer and David Comfort, taking turns thusfar. Singer has a sparkling 1.08 GAA through three games but Comfort has a higher save percentage at 64%.
Homecoming for McGinty
One of the best goalkeepers in Wake Forest history returns to Spry Stadium on Saturday night. Only this time, Mike McGinty will be wearing the colors of an ACC rival. McGinty is an assistant coach for the Cavaliers.
McGinty played for the Deacs from 1991-94 and was on the '91 team, the last time to defeat Virginia 2-0.
McGinty still holds a place in the Wake Forest record books, ranking third in save percentage (78.5%) and fourth in GAA (1.16).
In case of emergency, break glass
Last season, the Deacons received a huge boost off the bench from forward Jaron Barbee.
In 2000, Barbee has started two games but has come off the bench in the second 45 minutes to provide a spark.
The senior assisted on Stafford's gamewinner against UNC Greensboro and on Hakes' goal against Liberty.
When Barbee entered the lineup with 23 minutes remaining against UConn, Wake Forest picked up its intensity and began to pressure the Huskies. Shortly after, Wake tied the game, eventually winning in overtime.
Coach Vidovich calls Barbee a "vulture" who converts on his chances. The coaching staff also likes his versatility.
Seale of Approval
After missing all three preseason games due to injury, junior midfielder Jamal Seale is getting close to full speed. Seale returned to the field in time for the season opener at UConn, but has yet to start a game this season.
A second-team All-ACC performer in 1999, Seale led the team in assists (7).
High Five
Wake is ranked fifth in the NSCAA top 25 poll, the Soccer America poll and the Soccer Times poll, their highest rankings since Nov. 1, 1999, when the Deacs were fourth in the country.
The Deacs have appeared in 14 straight polls, a span of one year.
After being unranked in the 1999 NSCAA preseason poll, Wake Forest cracked the first regular season poll at #24. From that point, the Deacs steadily climbed through the rankings and peaked at #3 on November 1. Wake spent the final eight weeks in the top 10, finishing the season ranked #10.
Facing the Nation's Best
In addition to the already-tough ACC slate, the Deacs scheduled UConn and St. John's in Connecticut. The remaining non-conference schedules includes South Carolina, George Mason and at Charlotte.
ACC rivals Virginia, Maryland and Clemson visit Spry Stadium in 2000 while Wake travels to face in-state ACC rivals NC State, North Carolina and Duke.
Thomas Named Preseason All-American
Sophomore midfielder Aaron Thomas was named to College Soccer Online's preseason All-American team. After playing defender last year, Thomas has already proved to be a dangerous threat in the penalty area. He scored a gametying goal against St. John's on a diving header during a scramble in the box.
Stafford Named to Soccer America's Team of the Week After UConn Trip
Senior Ben Stafford earned a place on the Soccer America Team of the Week for Sept. 4. Stafford scored two goals against Connecticut, including the overtime gamewinner. The next day, Stafford found net against St. John's.
Three Deacons Earn Spots on Bob's Stores/UConn All-Tournament Team
Seniors Ben Stafford and Rob Vartughian and sophomore Aaron Thomas were named to the Bob's Stores/UConn All-Tournament thanks to their outstanding performances against Connecticut and St. John's.
Vartughian made ten saves against UConn, including three saves within a eight second span in overtime.
Just 34 seconds after Vartughian's saves, Stafford scored the overtime gamewinner against the Huskies. Stafford finished the trip with three goals.
Thomas earned his place on the team in large part because of his game-tying goal against St. John's with less than ten minutes remaining in regulation.
His diving header tied the game at two and forced the teams to play overtime.
Vidovich in seventh season at WFU
Head Coach Jay Vidovich is in his seventh season at the helm of the Wake Forest men's soccer program. He has a career record of 69-45-9 and is just nine wins shy of becoming the all-time winningest coach in Wake Forest history, surpassing mentor and friend, Walt Chyzowych.
#11 Chris Lonteen
Junior * Midfielder * Rolling Meadows, IL
Lonteen File
* All-ACC Candidiate
* Strong ball server and set up man
* WFU's leading scorer in 1999 with seven goals and six assists
Major:
Sociology
Date of Birth:
Jan. 20, 1980
Parents:
Gilles and Mary Ann
On the Field
2000: Has dished out three assists in the young season including two against fourth-ranked Connecticut * still looking for his first 2000 goal.
1999: Led the team in points with 20 (seven goals, six assists) * named to Soccer America's Team of the Week (Oct. 18) * displayed tremendous efficiency with his scoring chances, with seven goals on just 27 shots * scored two goals against Liberty including the gamewinner * tallied one goal and one assist in NCAA Tournament vs. Virginia Commonwealth * registered goal in the ACC quarters vs. UVa.
Off the Field
Nickname Lonnie, Tino
Favorite TV Show Sopranos
Favorite Movie Rudy
Reason why you chose Wake Forest Academics, great facilities
Teammate who makes you laugh the hardest Matt Thompson
Superstition Leave shoe laces untied first minutes of warmups
Person who has most influences your career My dad
Most memorable moment in sports First goal at Wake (vs. UVa)
Post-College Plans High rolling with a big-time job
