Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Virginia
#13 Deacons Shock #6 Virginia, 2-1
9/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 14, 2002
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The 13th-ranked Wake Forest men's soccer team jumped on sixth-ranked Virginia early, never let up and came away with a 2-1 victory in front of 2,555 fans on a rainy Saturday night at Spry Stadium. The Demon Deacons remain unbeaten on the season at 3-0-1 and begin Atlantic Coast Conference play with a 1-0 record.
The Wake Forest victory was the program's first against Virginia since 1991 and the first ever win in Winston-Salem. Virginia, which did not allow a regular season goal in six ACC games last season, allowed two against Wake Forest in the first half. The victory was Wake's first against a ranked opponent since defeating fifth-ranked UNC last October.
"It doesn't get any bigger in the ACC than Virginia but the history wasn't really a factor for our guys. The teams are different each year. Most of our guys remember last year and how closely we played them then," head coach Jay Vidovich said. "The key for us was to get out on top early and make them play from behind."
In the 38th minute, Wake Forest got on the board when Brian Carroll and Ryan Alexander perfectly executed a give-and-go, springing Carroll for a breakaway. He fired the ball past the Cavalier keeper to give the Deacons a 1-0 lead.
With time ticking out in the first half, it appeared the teams would go into the lockerroom with the same score but the Deacons struck again with just 16 seconds showing on the Spry Stadium scoreboard. In traffic, Vicente Bastidas touched the ball to Carroll. He crossed it into the penalty area looking for Jeremiah White. With Virginia's keeper charging hard, White vollied the ball into an open net for a commanding two-goal edge.
It was the first goal of the year for White, who was playing in just his second game off the bench due to injury. On the play, UVa goalkeeper David Comfort was injured and was taken out of the game. He returned to start the second half.
The second half was a physical one, played in a steady rain. In the 51th minute, Wiggy Saunders cleared a Virginia shot off the line. The Cavaliers halved the lead in the 59th minute on Ryan Gibbs' goal. But the 'Hoos could get no closer. Shots were even for the game at nine and Deacon goalkeeper William Hesmer made five saves.
The Deacons hit the road for their next two games. The first is Wednesday at the University of Richmond. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at First Market Stadium.
1 2 - F#6 Virginia (3-2-0) 0 1 - 1#13 Wake Forest (3-0-1) 2 0 - 2
37:17 WFU Brian Carroll (1) (Ryan Alexander)44:46 WFU Jeremiah White (1) (Brian Carroll, Vicente Bastidas)58:06 UVA Ryan Gibbs (1) (Kirk Dinnal)
Shots: Wake Forest 9, Virginia 9Saves: Wake Forest 5 (William Hesmer 4, Team 1), Virginia 3 (David Comfort)Corner Kicks: Wake Forest 3, Virginia 4Fouls: Wake Forest 14, Virginia 26Cautions: Wake Forest 1 (White 1, 59:00), Virginia 3 (LeBlanc 2, 59:00, 71:27; Cole 22:11)Ejections: Virginia 1 (LeBlanc, 71:27)Attendance: 2,555Weather: 78 degrees and steady rain
