Wake Forest University
Va. Tech (ACC Quarterfinals)
Top Seeded Wake Forest Survives Virginia Tech, 1-0
11/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 10, 2004
CARY, N.C. - Sophomore forward Mark Ellington scored a golden goal in the 98th minute as the eighth-ranked and top-seeded Demon Deacons knocked off Virginia Tech, 1-0, in ACC Tournament Quarterfinal action from SAS Soccer Stadium Wednesday afternoon. The victory moves Wake Forest into the ACC Semifinals for the sixth consecutive season.
The Deacs (13-4-1) controlled the pace of play for the entire match, but were not able to solve a packed Hokie defense until late in the first overtime session. Senior Amir Lowery won possession of a 50-50 ball near midfield and spotted a streaking Justin Moose down the right wing. Moose beat one Virginia Tech defender and crossed the ball across the goal mouth to Ellington on the back post. Ellington calmly one-touched the ball into the open net. The goal was Ellington's second of the season. Moose and Lowery were each credited with an assist, third of the season for both.
With the victory, the Demon Deacons advance to Friday's first ACC Tournament Semifinal. Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Deacs will face either fourth-seeded Virginia or fifth-seeded Duke.
Wake Forest had a handful of quality scoring chances, the most dangerous coming from the ACC's Offensive and Defensive Player's of the Year, senior Scott Sealy and junior Michael Parkhurst. Sealy, a native of Petit Valley, Trinidad, had a pair of golden chances in the 23rd minute. The forward broke behind the Virginia Tech defense. Sealy rifled a shot toward the lower right-hand corner, but Hokie goalkeeper Chase Harrison denied Sealy. Then, Harrison again turned away Sealy on a rebound attempt. The second stop was on the Virginia Tech goal-line.
The tandem then combined on a terrific goal scoring chance in the second half. Parkhurst, a native of Cranston, Rhode Island, dumped the ball into Sealy at the top of the box. With his back to the goal, Sealy slipped a pass between a pair of Hokie defenders, allowing Parkhurst to go one-on-one. The Hermann Trophy nominee got a pair of point-blank shots off, but Harrison stopped both shots.
Harrison, a junior goalkeeper, really kept the Hokies in the match, facing an array for Wake Forest scoring chances. The Deacs outshot the Hokies, 16-5, including 9-2 after halftime.
While the majority of play was in the the Virginia Tech defensive third, the Hokies did have a pair of quality scoring chances. In the 51st minute, Marcus Reed found space inside the Demon Deacon penalty area on a Hokie counter attack. Reed's blast from just inside the box was saved off the line by redshirt freshman netminder Brian Edwards. Edwards made another quality save in the 95th minute to keep the match tied, allowing Ellington to win it minutes later.
Edwards picked up his 13th victory and eighth shutout of the season. With eight shutouts this season, Edwards is just one shutout behind the Wake Forest single-season record of nine -- set by former Demon Deacon and current Virginia assistant coach Mike McGinty in 1991.
The victory over the Hokies was the fourth straight in the all-time series as Wake Forest improved to 7-2-1 against Virginia Tech. With 13 victories, the Demon Deacons have eclipsed the 13-win plateau for the fourth straight season. Wake Forest also upped its record to 9-1-1 away from Spry Stadium this season.
-- WakeForestSports.com --
