Deacons Face Virginia in ACC Tournament Semifinal Tonight
11/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 14, 2003
Cary, NC -
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Deacons Face Virginia in ACC Semifinal...
second-seeded Wake Forest plays third-seeded Virginia in the ACC Tournament semifinals with a berth in Sunday's championship game on the line. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at the SAS Stadium in Cary, N.C.
Third Time's A Charm?...
this is the third straight year the Deacons and Cavaliers have met in the ACC semifinals. In both of the previous meetings, Virginia won 1-0.
In last year's match, the Deacons lost on an own goal when a cross by Alecko Eskandarian was deflected into the net. It happened early in the first half and proved to be the only goal of the game.
In 2001, it was another Wake Forest mistake that cost the Deacons a place in the tournament final. The match was scoreless in overtime when a Wake Forest defender passed back to goalkeeper William Hesmer. Hesmer slipped and fell on the wet playing surface at Clemson's Riggs Field. Virginia's Kyle Martino got to the loose ball first and chipped home the only goal of the match.
Last Time Out...
Wake Forest advanced to Friday's semifinal by virtue of a 3-1 victory against Duke in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.
Duke took a 1-0 lead on a goal in the 32nd minute. About three minutes later, the Deacons equalized with a goal by Raleigh native Steven Curfman. He was assisted by Wells Thompson and Jeremiah White.
The game remained tied for nearly 53 minutes until the 89th minute. After a Curfman corner kick, the ball sat at the top of the penalty box. White charged in and unleashed a rocket into the net for the game-winner.
Adam Hakes scored with 18 seconds left on a 3-on-1 breakaway. White assisted on that goal.
White, the ACC Player of the Year, finished the night with one goal and two assists to move into second place on the Wake Forest career scoring chart with 37 goals, 19 assists for a total of 93 points.
Always Physical...
Wake Forest - Virginia games are also physical affairs and they tend to draw a lot of whistles and stoppages of play.
In the last eight meetings, the teams have combined for 313 fouls, 34 cautions and two red cards. Wake Forest has accounted for 135 fouls and 12 cards but neither ejection. (see chart below)
In this year's the regular season meeting in Charlottesville, Wake Forest All-American and ACC Player of the Year Jeremiah White took an elbow while in the center circle that broke his cheekbone.
White was originally expected to miss up to eight week, with a possible return for the ACC Tournament. However, satisfied with the White's progress doctors medically cleared him just one week after the surgery and the following week, White returned against Maryland with a protective headband.
Last Eight Meetings vs. Virginia... Fouls Cautions EjectionsDate Site Result WF VA WF VA WF VA9/13/03 Charlottesville L, 2-1 12 17 1 3 - -11/15/02 Cary, NC (ACC) L, 1-0 15 24 2 3 - -9/14/02 Winston-Salem W, 2-1 14 26 1 3 - 111/16/01 Clemson, SC (ACC) L, 1-0 19 13 2 2 - -9/17/01 Charlottesville L, 1-0 23 19 0 1 - -9/16/00 Winston-Salem L, 2-0 12 25 2 6 - 111/12/99 Winston-Salem (ACC) L, 2-1 23 32 2 4 - -9/19/99 Charlottesville T, 1-1 17 22 2 0 - -Totals 1-6-1 135 178 12 22 0 2
