Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons, Gauchos Meet in Battle of Last Two National Champions
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 19, 2008
Wake Forest - UC Santa Barbara Game Notes 
- WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The top-ranked and defending national champion Wake Forest men's soccer team hits the road for the first time in 2008, traveling across the country to battle 2006 national champion and No. 24 UC Santa Barbara on Sunday night at 9 p.m. (ET) in Santa Barbara, Calif.
"We're excited for the opportunity to play a big time opponent," head coach Jay Vidovich said. "Santa Barbara is a very talented team. To play against their team and play against a tough home crowd will be a great opportunity to test our team."
Wake Forest enters the weekend with a 5-0-0 overall record and a 1-0-0 mark in ACC play after opening conference action with a 5-0 victory against Clemson. Five different Deacons scored goals in the contest, including senior forward Marcus Tracy scoring for the fifth time on the season. Sam Cronin, Corben Bone, Zack Schilawski and Cody Arnoux each scored for the first time in 2008.
Junior goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald recorded his fourth straight shut out and extended his scoreless streak to 400:09. Fitzgerald has a miniscule 0.20 goals against average through the first five games of the season, and hasn't allowed a goal since early in the second half against VCU in the season opener.
The Deacons will look to extend an impressive unbeaten streak against non-conference opponents that currently spans 32 matches, the longest such streak in college soccer. Wake Forest last lost to a non-ACC foe on November 26, 2005, when California defeated the Deacs 3-2 in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
UC Santa Barbara is 4-2-0 entering Sunday's contest. The Gauchos snapped a two-game losing streak on Thursday night, defeating Evansville. UCSB has also picked up victories over Air Force, Kentucky and Loyola Marymount. The Gauchos are led by Chris Pontius, who leads the team with five goals and 11 points.
"Pontius is one of the best players in the country and one of the best attacking players," Vidovich said. "They have quality players at every position. We know we're going to have a very competitive match."
Live stats and a recap of Sunday's match will be available at wakeforestsports.com.
-WakeForestSports.com-
