Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Wofford (Exhibition)
No. 1 Deacons Defeat Wofford 5-1
8/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 19, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - On the same day that he was named to the 2008 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List, senior forward Marcus Tracy showed why he was worthy of that honor as he scored three times to help the top-ranked Wake Forest men's soccer team to a 5-1 win in the team's exhibition opener.
"I think the first game showed that we have a lot of work to do," head coach Jay Vidovich said. "We have some pieces, but we have to find our form. Marcus had some quality finishes. He's always a threat that the opposing team has to worry about."
Wake Forest used its exhibition opener to honor Genna Wiley, the wife of former Wake Forest men's soccer trainer Steve Wiley. Wake Forest wore pink Nike jerseys for the game, while the Wofford team also participated, wearing white jerseys with pink numbers. The game-worn jerseys were auctioned off in a silent auction and fans were able to make donations as they entered the game. In total, over $12,000 was raised for cancer research.
On the field, the Deacons got two goals in the opening half from Hermann Trophy candidate Cody Arnoux. Tracy followed with three goals of his own in the second half. Jamie Franks and Zack Schilawski added two assists for the Deacs.
"It was great to get the goals, but the goals were mainly due to great balls," Tracy said. "As a striker, you have to finish your opportunities. All the credit goes to my teammates. I just did the best I could to get the goals."
Wake Forest scored first, 11:18 into the game. Arnoux got the ball on the right side of the box and scored from 10 yards out to give the Deacs a 1-0 advantage. Schilawski and Corben Bone teamed up for the assist on the goal.
Arnoux added his second goal in the 37th minute. Schilawski found Arnoux 13 yards in front of the net, and Arnoux did the rest, depositing the ball in the back of the goal to give Wake Forest a 2-0 lead at the half.
Much of the play in the first 20 minutes of the second half was spent in the middle of the field. In the 68th minute, Tracy broke free and was able to beat the oncoming Wofford goalie, putting the ball in the right side of the net from nine yards out. Franks and Michael Lahoud recorded assists on the play.
Just under four minutes later, Tracy added his second tally of the night. Freshman Sam Redmond fed Tracy a great ball through the middle of the field. Tracy used a nice move to get around the goalkeeper and found the empty net from seven yards out.
Tracy registered the final Deacon goal of the night at the 78:13 mark. Franks found Tracy 11 yards outside the goal, and the Newtown, Conn., native beat the goalie on the left side to give Wake Forest a 5-0 lead.
Wofford scored its only goal of the night in the 84th minute. After the ball got away from Wake Forest keeper Austin Chelko, Alexander Drummond had an empty net and scored from 15 yards out to put the Terriers on the board.
Akira Fitzgerald got the start for the Deacs and played the first 73:10 of the game. Fitzgerald made one save and did not allow a goal in his season debut. Chelko played the final 16:50 for the Deacs, allowing the one goal.
The Deacons won the shot category handily, with a 10-5 tally. Wake Forest had six shots on goal, compared to two for Wofford.
Wake Forest returns to action on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Furman in the final exhibition match of the season. The Taste of Winston-Salem will happen prior to the game as restaurants from throughout the city will be on hand serving samples to Wake Forest's incoming freshman class.
-WakeForestSports.com-
