Deacs Set to Play NC State on Senior Night
10/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 20, 2006
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -
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No. 3 Demon Deacons vs. Wolfpack...
The Wake Forest men's soccer team stays home at Spry Stadium for an ACC match-up with NC State on Saturday at 7 p.m. The Deacons are riding a three-game winning streak after beating UNC-Greenboro on Wednesday night by a 3-0 margin. Three different players scored for the Deacs, all in the first half of action. The win ended Wake's non-conference portion of the schedule with a perfect 10-0 record. The Deacons are also 3-2-1 in ACC play, good for third in the conference while the Wolfpack are currently ninth in conference action (1-5-1). The game will serve as the home regular season finale for the Deacons. NC State is coming off a 4-1home loss to Duke.
A Win Would...
improve the Demon Deacons to 14-2-1 overall ... extend Wake Forest's unbeaten streak to eight games ... give Wake Forest a 6-2-1 record at Spry Stadium in 2006 ... make the Deacons 4-2-1 in conference play ... give the Deacons their 13th win against the Wolfpack in their last 14 tries ... give head coach Jay Vidovich his 161st career victory.
A Loss Would...
drop the Demon Deacons to 13-3-1 overall ... snap Wake Forest's unbeaten streak at seven games ... give Wake Forest a 5-3-1 record at home in 2006 ... make the Deacons 3-3-1 in conference play .... extend the Wolfpack's winning streak over the Deacons to two ... deny head coach Jay Vidovich his 161st career victory.
Deacons Dominant in Recent History...
Before last season's 2-1 loss to the Wolfpack at the Method Road Soccer Stadium in Raleigh, Wake Forest had won the previous 12 matches against NC State dating back to 1995. The Deacs own a 16-11-2 edge all time against the Wolfpack.
Swan Song for the Seniors...
Saturday's match against NC State will serve as the final home regular season game for the team's five seniors: Steven Curfman, Bobby Davis, Mark Ellington, Ryan Solle, and Wells Thompson. The group has carried Wake to a 55-20-5 record over its 3+ seasons and is just three wins shy of becoming the school's winningest senior class. They have also made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and what will more than likely be a fourth upcoming.
Wake Forest Trends...
Seniors Ryan Solle and Steven Curfman currently lead the Deacs with 13 points. Following close behind is fellow senior Wells Thompson, who currently has five goals and two assists for 12 points.
After not recording a single goal or assist last fall, sophomore Marcus Tracy is fourth on the team with nine points in 2006. He is also tied for second on the team with four goals this season.
Wake Forest has out-shot its opponents 229-144, including a 116-80 second-half margin. As a result, the Deacs have out-scored the opposition 35-13 overall and 19-8 in the second half.
Wake Forest had nine different players score its first nine goals this season. The Demon Deacons currently have 12 different players with goals this season, eclipsing the total number of all of the 2005 season.
Shutouts Galore...
Redshirt junior Brian Edwards upped his own school record for career shutouts to 29 on Wednesday against UNCG. Additionally, Edwards broke his own single-season record for shutouts with 10, which is a team record as well. Edwards has started all of the Deacons last 58 matches and has 10 shutouts this season. Edwards enters the contest against NC State with a 0.78 goals-against-average.
Valentin Honored (3x)...
Junior Julian Valentin was named the ACC's, Soccer America's, and TopDrawerSoccer.com's Player of the Week for his performances against Connecticut and North Carolina. The Lancaster, Pa., native scored game-winners in both matches against the nationally-ranked opponents. Against then-23rd UConn on Oct. 10, Valentin notched the golden goal in the 103rd minute of double overtime, heading in the free kick from senior Ryan Solle. Three days later, the All-America candidate put in another game-winner, scoring the lone goal in the team's match at then-third UNC. A defender, Valentin was also instrumental in preserving shutouts against both teams.
