Deacons Host Old Dominion in NCAA Second Round

Nov. 25, 2002

Game #20

Wake Forest Hosts Old Dominion in NCAA Second Round

For the first time ever, Wake Forest(14-1-4) enters the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament as the number one national seed. After receiving a first-round bye in the bracket of 48 teams, the Deacons host Old Dominion which defeated Richmond by a convincing 3-0 score on Saturday.
Wake Forest comes into Wednesday's game well-rested following a 12-day layoff since its last game. The Deacons last played on Nov. 15, a 1-0 loss in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament. The loss snapped Wake Forest's 18-game unbeaten streak and was the team's first defeat of the year.
The Deacons and the Monarchs should be at least familiar with each other after meeting in early September in Norfolk. Wake Forest won that contest 2-1. Old Dominion has traveled to Winston-Salem for NCAA Tournament action before. In 1989, the Deacons defeated the Monarchs by a 2-1 score.

Deacons in the NCAA Tournament

Wake Forest makes its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the third in the last four years.
Oddly enough, the Deacons have never played an NCAA Tournament game outside of Winston-Salem. Of Wake Forest's eight NCAA Tournament games, all have been played at old Polo Field or Spry Stadium. The Deacons were 1-4 at Polo Field and are 1-2 at Spry Stadium.
The win at Polo Field came in 1989 against Old Dominion. In that game, Geraint Davies scored in the 11th and 22nd minutes to give the Deacons a two-goal cushion. Wake Forest outshot the Monarchs 12-4 in that game and advanced to the round of 16.
The Deacons are 2-6 overall in the NCAA Tournament and have reached the round of 16 twice in school history, in 1989 and 1999. A win on Wednesday would put the Deacons into that round.

Last Time Against Old Dominion

Ranked 16th at the time, Wake Forest came from behind to defeat Old Dominion 2-1 in Norfolk, Va., on September 7, 2002. After allowing a penalty kick goal in the 61st minute, the Deacons responded immediately with two quick strikes in the next two minutes and 30 seconds. The first was a penalty kick by Scott Sealy. The second goal, which proved to be the game-winner, came when Vicente Bastidas headed in a Brian Carroll corner kick.
The Monarchs opened the scoring in the 60th minute with a successful penalty kick after the game went scoreless into halftime. Attila Vendegh made the penalty kick for his first goal of the season after a Wake handball penalty was called. However, the lead would be short lived as the Deacons responded with a penalty shot of their own. Sealy converted on his attempt, tying the game at one. Moments later, Bastidas headed in Carroll's corner kick at 62:47.
The header by Bastidas would end up being the game winniner as goalkeeper William Hesmer and the Deacon defense would hold off several late Monarch charges. The Deacons (2-0-1) controlled the game in the first half firing off 11 shots while keeping ODU from firing a single shot.

A Season of Firsts

There's no question the 2002 season will go down as one of the best in Wake Forest history. For the first time ever, Wake Forest has ...
Been the number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Won first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season.
Been ranked number one.
Gone undefeated in the regular season overall and in the ACC.
Shut out ten opponents.
Had a Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Finalist (Brian Carroll).
Had three crowds of more than 3,000 at Spry Stadium (So. Carolina, Clemson, Ga. Southern).

In the Rankings. . .

The Demon Deacons are ranked number one this week by Soccer Times and the NSCAA. Soccer Times was the first poll to get on board on October 21. Soccer America is the only major poll to not list Wake Forest at number one this week. In that poll, Maryland leapfrogged nine teams to the top of the chart, dropping the Deacons to number two.
Nonetheless, Wake Forest has been ranked number one by at least one publication for six straight weeks, the top five for 11 weeks and the top 25 for 20 consecutive weeks.
The number one ranking is the best in school history. The previous best came in 1991 and 1999 when the Deacons were ranked third.

Saving the Best for Last

The Demon Deacons have outscored their opponents 34-3 in the second half this season, only allowing goals to Virginia, Old Dominion and North Carolina. One possible explanation is that Wake Forest wears down its opponents with its deep bench and possession style of play.
The Deacons have scored in the final ten minutes of regulation seven different times this season against SLU, Akron, Richmond, William & Mary, South Carolina, Elon and Duke.

Carroll Named M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Finalist

Junior Brian Carroll has been named a finalist for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy. Carroll, a Soccer America Preseason All-American is the first Deacon to earn the honor.

White Charges Up the Wake Forest Scoring Charts

Jeremiah White continues his ascent up the WFU scoring charts. The two-time first team All-ACC selection needs one goal to become the school's third all-time leading scorer.
Early this fall, White missed five games with a leg injury. He came off the bench in his first nine games but had a major impact in each of those games, scoring against Maryland, Clemson, NC State and the game-winner against Virginia. White scored both goals in Wake's 2-0 win at Duke.

Up Next:

If the Deacons advance, they would reach the Sweet 16 and host a third-round match against either Coastal Carolina or Clemson at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 30 at Spry Stadium.

Wake Forest Athletics