Wake Forest Athletics
2005 Men's Soccer Outlook
8/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 10, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The 2005 Wake Forest men's soccer team has a lot to live up to. The Demon Deacons enter the campaign with four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, earning the top-seed twice in the last three years. Wake Forest has also captured a pair of ACC regular season titles in the same span. Over the last three years, the Demon Deacons have combined for a 44-12-6 record.
But, many of the players responsible for the success during the past three seasons are gone.
The Deacs lost eight seniors from a class that departed as the winningest in school history. Gone are All-American forward Scott Sealy, All-ACC midfielder Amir Lowery, James Riley, Stephen Keel and Ryan Caugherty. Sealy finished his Demon Deacon career as one of the most prolific scorers in school history. He finished second on the career chart for goals (43) and points (108). Sealy also finished in a tie for fourth place on the all-time assists chart with 22. He led Wake Forest last season with 17 goals, 10 assists and 44 points. For his effort, he was named 2004 ACC Offensive Player of the Year and first team All-ACC.
The Demon Deacons will also be without the services of All-American central defender Michael Parkhurst who entered the MLS SuperDraft after his junior season. Parkhurst was in the starting lineup for every match the past three years -- a span of 62 consecutive starts. He was named 2004 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-ACC for the second consecutive year. Parkhurst was also named NSCAA All-America second team in 2003.
Sealy and Parkhurst were each chosen in the first round of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft, while Riley and Lowery were selected in the second and fourth rounds respectively. The Deacs were the lone school to have four players drafted in 2005. Sealy, Parkhurst and Riley are all in the running for MLS Rookie of the Year and Parkhurst was the lone newcomer to appear in the 2005 MLS All-Star Game. Caugherty was picked in the MLS Supplemental Draft, but is now playing professionally in Denmark, while Keel has since signed with the Colorado Rapids.
In all, the group went 57-18-7 (.738) in their four years -- the most victories for any senior class in school history.
Despite a younger and less experienced club that will look for significant contributions from an exciting and dynamic freshman class, the cupboard has not been left bare. Wake Forest does return six starters and 12 letterwinners from last year's squad, including senior NSCAA All-American first team selection Justin Moose.
FORWARDS
Moose was the Demon Deacons' second-ever NSCAA first team All-America selection in 2004. He was named to the NSCAA All-South first team after being awarded second team in 2003. Moose was second on Wake Forest in points (19) and goals (7). He also earned All-ACC second team in 2004, despite missing five matches due to injury. With one season remaining, Moose already ranks in a tie for fifth all-time with 20 career assists.
Moose does not have the benefit of playing along side of Sealy, but the dynamic forward has the ability to dominate the game on his own. Without question, one of the most dangerous and exciting attacking players in the country, a healthy Moose will go along way to help the Wake Forest attack.
The Deacs also return a pair of attacking players that saw time a season ago. Junior Mark Ellington played in 18 games off the Demon Deacon bench and scored two goals with one assist. His season included some big moments, including the gamewinning goal in the 1-0 overtime victory over Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Ellington possesses good size and strength with an ability to win services in the air.
Sophomore Alimer Gonzalez saw limited lime in 2004, but could provide the Demon Deacons with a spark off of the bench. A bit of an unknown is senior Marcellus Tennyson, who missed the 2004 season. Similar to Ellington, Tennyson has the athletic ability to compete in the ACC, but inconsistency has hindered his development.
Ellington, Gonzalez and Tennyson will all be pushed for playing time by a pair of freshman, Marcus Tracy and Andrew Wright. Tracy was named Parade High School All-American and was the Connecticut High School Player of the Year. A true goal scorer, Tracy tallied 100 goals during his scholastic career. Wright, a tremendous athlete, not only was named all-state in soccer, but he earned the same accolades in football. At 6-foot-3, Wright will make an immediate physical presence.
MIDFIELDERS
No doubt, the loss of Riley, Lowery and Caugherty leave the midfield a little short in experience, but Wake Forest does return a pair of All-ACC caliber players in junior Ryan Solle and junior Steven Curfman.
Solle had a breakthrough season in 2004. After struggling through his freshman season in 2003, Solle played in 19 games for the Deacs starting 18 last year. The midfielder finished second on the squad with nine assists, which also ranked among the ACC's best. Solle nearly became the fourth player in school history to ever register 10 or more assists in a single season. While he did not receive any postseason recognition for his play, Solle might have been one of the most consistent players a year ago. He was awarded Ohio State Classic All-Tourney Team and recorded at least one assist in six consecutive matches (Loyola Marymount, Elon, Clemson, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Davidson).
Curfman, a 2003 ACC All-Freshman team selection, battled through an injury-laden 2004 campaign. He missed four games due to an ankle injury, but still managed to close the season on a high note. Curfman scored a goal and assisted on another in the NCAA Tournament match against VCU. He also had a pair of assists on set pieces in the 4-2 victory over Maryland. Curfman is not only an All-ACC caliber player, but an All-American caliber player that must take his game to another level to reach his full potential.
The Deacs also return junior starter Wells Thompson. Thompson played in 19 games last season, starting nine. A 2003 ACC All-Freshman choice, Thompson is one of the more physical and gritty players on the squad. He scored a pair of goals and added one assist in 2004. Both goals (Loyola Marymount and Virginia Tech) proved to be eventual gamewinners, while his only assist came in the NCAA Tournament match with VCU. Thompson did not participate in team activities during the sprng and must come back fit and ready to challenge for a starting spot.
Senior Grey Ballard, one of the most liked and respected players on the team, returns in the midfield. Ballard has only seen action in 19 games over his career, but is a dependable player that has a tremendous knowledge of the game which will be beneficial to many of the younger players.
Junior Rick Kukwa is the final returning midfielder in 2005. Kukwa did not see any game action last year, but made great strides in the spring and looks to do the same this fall.
The remaining midfielders are all newcomers, including Sam Cronin and Cline Beam, who might also see playing time in the back, along with Jamie Franks, Mike Lahoud, Cooper Bryant, Will Clayton, Joseph Russell, Barrett Park and Lyle Adams.
Cronin, Beam, Franks and Lahoud will all not only make an impact, but a major one right away. Cronin, a Winston-Salem product, was a NSCAA Youth All-American last season at Mount Tabor HS. Beam, also a NSCAA Youth All-American last season, attended the adidas ESP Camp and was a member of the 1986 Region III ODP squad. Franks was New Jersey High School Player of the Year, a Parade High School All-American and was twice named NSCAA Youth All-American. Franks has also suited up for the U.S. Under-18 National Team. Lahoud was named 2004 Reston Football Club Player of the Year.
Bryant, Clayton, Russell, Park and Adams will all vie for playing time as well.
DEFENDERS
With Parkhurst anchoring the defense for the Deacs the past three seasons, Wake Forest was able to play with just three in the back, but his departure will force Wake Forest to play with four in the back much more often.
The sophomore tandem of Pat Phelan and Julian Valentin go from rookies to veterans in one season. Both were named to the ACC All-Freshman team, the third and fourth freshman to earn the honor over the past two seasons (Curfman and Thompson in 2003). Phelan played in 19 games, starting 18 at outside back and recorded one assist in 2004. He also played with the U.S. Under-20 National Team, helping them solidify a spot in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Holland. Phelan, a definite All-ACC candidate, was named first team Top Drawer Soccer Freshman All-American.
Valentin played in 17 games, starting 12 at outside back with two goals and one assist in 2004. He recorded an assist in his first collegiate game against Ohio State and tallied first career goal in the 4-2 triumph over Maryland. Valentin then scored against VCU in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. He was named second team Top Drawer Soccer Freshman All-American. Alongside Phelan, the Deacons have two of the top defenders in the entire ACC.
Redshirt senior Wes Allen returns for his final season with the Demon Deacons. Allen, who spent much of the past three years behind Parkhurst, has immeasurable heart and character, but must seize this opportunity for playing time. Allen scored in the 2004 season opening 2-0 victory over Ohio State and went on to play in 13 games.
Junior Bobby Davis, sophomore Ryan Swaim and the freshmen trio of Ben Ryan, Evan Brown and Justin Lichtfuss will challenge for playing time. Davis saw action in seven games without a start, but six of those games were over the Demon Deacons' final seven on 2004. Swaim did not see any action last season, but did gain countless experience this spring starting for Wake Forest.
GOALKEEPERS
Following the graduation of former All-American William Hesmer, Wake Forest turned its goalkeeping responsibility over to then redshirt freshman Brian Edwards. The sophomore started all 21 games for the Demon Deacons and logged every single minute between the pipes. Edwards posted a 0.96 goals against average and recorded a new single-season school record with nine shutouts. He blanked Ohio State, VCU, NC State, Elon, Clemson, Virginia Tech (twice), North Carolina and UCF. In fact, Edwards registered four consecutive shutouts and did not allow a goal for a span of 499:34. He earned second team Freshman All-American honors from Top Drawer Soccer.
Redshirt freshman Marcus Rein also returns giving Wake Forest two top-caliber goalkeepers. While Rein redshirted last season, he did split time with Edwards in the spring and showed flashes of brilliance. Rein is strong, reads the game well, make big saves and has international experience. He is a current member of the U.S. Under-18 National Team.
With the return of both Edwards and Rein, the goalkeeper starting spot is wide open. The nod will most likely not be decided until the open of the regular season.
SCHEDULE
Wake Forest has once again put together a challenging schedule, one that sees the Demon Deacons play their first five games away from the comfort of Spry Stadium. In fact, Wake Forest will not make its home debut until Sept. 20.
The Deacs will face 10 teams that reached the 2004 NCAA Tournament, headlined by their season-opening trip to defending, back-to-back NCAA champion Indiana (Sept. 2). Wake Forest will also face Notre Dame (Sept. 4) at the IU Kickoff Classic. The Deacs will then travel to the Nike/Carolina Classic (Sept. 9 and 11) to play South Carolina and Rutgers.
Wake Forest opens ACC play against 2004 Final Four participant Duke on Sept. 18. The Demon Deacons will host ACC foes Virginia Tech (Sept. 23), Clemson (Oct. 12), North Carolina (Oct. 22) and Virginia (Nov. 4), but must also travel to Maryland (Sept. 30), Boston College (Oct. 16) and NC State (Oct. 30).
The Deacs will face Florida Atlantic (Sept. 27), Davidson (Oct. 4), Alabama A&M (Oct. 7) and Appalachian State (Oct. 19) at Spry Stadium. The Deacs lone non-conference road game is on Oct. 26 against UNC Greensboro.
It will be a formidable challenge for a young 2005 Wake Forest team but one the Demon Deacons are poised to meet.
