Wake Forest Athletics
Men's Soccer Opens Fall Practice
8/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 17, 2005
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest University men's soccer team opened preseason practice on Tuesday as preparation begins for the 2005 season.
The Demon Deacons will have two-a-day practice sessions everyday this week, culminating with the Black & Gold game Saturday. After two more training sessions on Aug. 21, the Deacs will open the exhibition schedule at UNC Charlotte on the 22nd. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.
This year's edition of men's soccer 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.
The normal morning practice time will be 8:30 a.m., while the afternoon sessions will vary between 3:45 and 4:15. All practices are open to the public.
Wake Forest opens the season at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic in Bloomington, Indiana. The Deacs will play the two-time defending National Champion Hoosiers on Friday, Sept. 2 then face Notre Dame on Sunday, Sept. 4.
