Wake Forest Athletics
No. 1 Wake Forest Opens ACC Play Against Clemson
9/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 12, 2008
Wake Forest-Clemson Game Notes 
- WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - After picking up four non-conference victories, the top-ranked Wake Forest men's soccer team opens up the Atlantic Coast Conference portion of its schedule on Saturday night as it welcomes Clemson to Spry Stadium at 7 p.m.
The Deacons are coming off a 1-0 victory over South Carolina last Sunday in the Deacon Fall Classic. Senior forward Marcus Tracy scored his fourth goal of the season, and third game-winning goal, in the 75th minute to lift Wake Forest to victory. Junior goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald recorded his third straight shut out and has not allowed a goal in the last 310:09.
Clemson enters conference play with a 1-2-1 record. The Tigers lone win of the season came in a 3-2 decision against Georgia State. Clemson is coming off a 1-1 tie against Radford. The Tigers are led by Greg Eckhardt, who leads the team with two goals and four points.
Wake Forest opens conference play against Clemson for the second straight year and seventh time in program history. Last season, the Deacons opened ACC play with a 1-0 win over the Tigers. Wake Forest finished second in the conference last year with a 6-1-1 record, its only loss coming to Boston College.
The Deacons have not fared well in conference lid-lifters. Since 1980, the Deacons are 4-21-3 in ACC openers. Wake Forest has never won conference openers in back-to-back seasons.
Clemson leads the overall series against Wake Forest, holding a 13-16-3 advantage, including an 8-5-3 edge in Winston-Salem. The Deacons have won five of the last six meetings, including a 3-1 victory in the ACC Tournament last season.
Live stats and a recap of Wake Forest's conference opener will be available at wakeforestsports.com.
-WakeForestSports.com-
