Wake Forest Athletics
2004 Men's Soccer Preview
8/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 25, 2004
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Over the past two seasons, Wake Forest has built itself into one of the top programs in the entire country. In 2002, the Demon Deacons set a new school record for wins in a single season, recorded an undefeated regular season and earned the top-seed in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. Then last season, Wake Forest again reached 15 wins, and earned the third-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Despite this incredible accomplishments, both the 2002 and 2003 seasons ended in disappointment.
With eight seniors and eight returning starters, this team is one of the most experienced squads in head coach Jay Vidovich's tenure at Wake Forest. It is this factor, along with a determined off-season conditioning effort and a deep and versatile group, that gives Vidovich confidence that the Deacs can reach their goal of the 2004 NCAA College Cup.
Wake Forest returns the nucleus of last season's club, but the Demon Deacons lost the services of All-Americans William Hesmer and Jeremiah White.
Hesmer closed his Wake Forest career as a two-time All-ACC selection and the program's first-ever first team NSCAA All-American. He was named first team All-South region and a Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy semifinalist. Hesmer, who was drafted 17th overall by the Kansas City Wizards, holds the Wake Forest career records for shutouts and goals against average.
White was the 2003 ACC Player of the Year and was named second team NSCAA All-American. He left Wake Forest as the school's second all-time leading scorer with 37 goals and 19 assists for a total of 93 points. White was chosen 23rd overall by the New England Revolution in the 2004 MLS Super Draft.
While Vidovich admits the losses of Hesmer and White are concerning, he feels the losses are not too much to overcome.
"You can't really replace players like Will and Jerry," Vidovich. "We were very fortunate to have them experience that type of success with our program, but we have a number of good players that can more than fill in for their departure."
Goalkeepers
After the graduation of Hesmer -- arguably the best goalkeeper in the entire country a year ago -- the starting position is wide open in 2004.
"Obviously, losing the type of leader we did in Will is tough," Vidovich said. "We are prepared in the goalkeeping position though with returning players Brian Edwards and Paul Slocum, and the addition of a talented freshman in Marcus Rein."
A pair of sophomores, Brian Edwards and Paul Slocum, each return after a 2003 season in which neither made an appearance for the Demon Deacons.
While Edwards did not get any action last season, he did gain valuable experience playing this past summer with the Carolina Dynamo. Edwards was instrumental as the Dynamo captured the Premier Development League Eastern Conference Championship. He posted a 1.67 goals against average in six matches.
Slocum brings a lot of potential, but needs more game experience. With his continued tireless work ethic and positive attitude, Slocum will push for playing time.
Incoming freshman Marcus Rein will also be in the mix for a starting nod. Rein made quite an impression on the Spry Stadium faithful this past spring when as a member of the U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team he faced an onslaught of 25 shots. Rein allowed just a single goal and recorded 13 saves.
Defenders
Without question, the backs might be the strongest area on the field. While the Demon Deacons did lose Wiggy Saunders, a consistent, reliable defender to graduation, Wake Forest returns starters Michael Parkhurst and James Riley.
Parkhurst, a second team NSCAA All-American in 2003, has started every game during his first two years at central defender. Parkhurst was also named All-ACC first team last season.
"There is no question that he has played an integral part in our programs success over the past several years," Vidovich said. "Michael has been the team MVP the past two seasons. He is an all around outstanding leader on and off the field. He allows to play the way we do."
Riley has been a starter each of the past three seasons, failing to start only three games in the last three years. Vidovich and the rest of the coaching staff are unsure why Riley has gone unnoticed the past three years.
"James might be the most underrated player in the entire country, let alone the ACC," Vidovich said. "For some reason, his play has gone unnoticed, but when his career is over he will most definitely make an impact in the MLS. He can play on the right-flank or left-flank. The kid is a winner."
This duo was instrumental last season as the Deacs surrendered just 16 goals in 20 matches and allowed only 7.25 shots on goal per game.
Behind Parkhurst and Riley are a solid contingent of returning players and a pair of highly-decorated rookies including junior Wes Allen, sophomore Robert Davis, senior Brent Pridgen and freshmen Julian Valentin and Patrick Phelan.
Allen scored a goal in four games two years ago, but missed the entire season in 2003 with a torn ACL. Pridgen, similar to Allen, returns to the field this fall after missing the entire season last year. Pridgen appears to be fully recovered from an ACL tear.
The freshman duo of Phelan and Valentin have the credentials to make an immediate impact. Both have Junior National Team experience and will make a serious push to get into the starting lineup.
Midfielders
The Demon Deacon midfield is filled with experience, creativity, speed and strength. Despite the loss of Vicente Bastidas, third on the all-time assists list with 23, Wake Forest returns its other four starters including Amir Lowery, Steven Curfman, Wells Thompson and Justin Moose.
Lowery is the definite leader of this group. He was named All-ACC second team in 2003. Lowery has started every game during the past two seasons. In fact, the last game that Lowery was not in the starting lineup was Nov. 25, 2001.
"Amir is our rock and enforcer," said Vidovich. "He made a stamp on the program this spring that he is going to help take this program to another level. The guys are ready to jump on his back."
Moose brings an incredible dynamic to the Demon Deacon midfield. He, more than any player maybe in the entire country, can simply take over the game with his incredible one-on-one ability. He was not only All-ACC second team, but was also chosen to the NSCAA All-South Region first team. The junior has either led or tied for the team lead in assists in each of his first two seasons.
A pair of sophomores, Curfman and Thompson, will see time on the outside. Both were named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2003. Curfman scored three goals and added six assists, while Thompson chipped in with a pair of assists. Curfman started the final 13 games of last season, while Thompson was part of the starting lineup in 10 of the last 11 games.
Senior Ryan Caugherty and sophomore Ryan Solle will be counted on heavily to contribute this fall.
Caugherty started 18 games in 2002, but struggled through some nagging injuries in 2003.
Solle had an up-and-down rookie campaign, seeing action in 10 games and adding an assist. Vidovich thinks that Solle can become a very special player.
Junior Grey Ballard, sophomore Robert Davis, senior Matt Koh, sophomore Rick Kukwa and junior Marcellus Tennyson are all quality players that will push the returning starters for playing time during preseason practice.
Ryan Swaim, the lone freshman midfielder, is a promising talent, but will need time to adjust to the speed and quickness of ACC soccer.
Forwards
Very rarely could a team replace the consistent proven goal scoring ability of a player like Jeremiah White. But, Vidovich feels confident that with the return of senior Scott Sealy, senior Tomy Szczypiorski, senior Stephen Keel and sophomore Mark Ellington will be more than able to replace the loss.
"I am glad that Scott got praise for the type of year he had last season," Vidovich said. "He is a pure goal scorer. His speed, strength and power is so dangerous inside the penalty area."
Sealy played in 20 games and started 17 for the Demon Deacons in 2003. He scored 11 goals and added four assists for a total of 26 points. Sealy not only led Wake Forest in goals and points, but also tied for the ACC lead in those same categories at the end of the regular season. He also led the Deacs with four gamewinning goals. Sealy was awarded All-ACC second team. He recorded the Demon Deacons only hat trick of the season and tallied 10 goals in the season's final 11 matches.
Szczypiorski and Keel each bring big-game experience with a tremendous goal scoring ability. Szczypiorski came onto the scene after White missed a handful of games due to injury. He went on to score six goals and three assists, good for third on the team with 15 points.
Keel is a definite big-time type player. He came off the bench in 19 games last season and tallied three goals and one assists. Keel has scored nine career goals and six of them have won games.
Ellington played in 16 games a year ago and started one. He scored one goal and added a pair of assists off the Demon Deacon bench.
Newcomer Alimer Gonzalez will also compete for playing time.
Schedule
It would be hard to imagine that there is a team with a tougher schedule in the entire county than Wake Forest.
Wake Forest opens the season at the Ohio State Classic facing the Buckeyes and Penn State. The following weekend, the Deacs face VCU and Florida International at the Nike Carolina Classic.
Wake Forest makes its Spry Stadium debut against ACC rival Virginia on Sept. 17.
In all, the Deacs face 10 teams that reached the 2003 NCAA Tournament including Florida International, VCU, Coastal Carolina and Davidson in non-conference play, as well as Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, NC State, Clemson and North Carolina.
