Wake Forest Athletics
Soccer Gameday: Wake Forest vs. UNCW
8/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeMSoccer)
| Gameday Central | Wake Forest vs. UNCW | |
| vs. UNCW | Saturday, Aug. 20, 7:00 p.m. |
| Location | Winston-Salem, N.C. (Spry Stadium) - Facility Information | Weather |
| Coverage |  | @WakeMSoccer  |
Deacs Welcome UNCW for Final Exhibition
• Wake Forest will welcome UNCW to Spry Stadium on Saturday night for the final tuneup match before the regular-season opener next Friday against Saint Louis.
• The game marks the second and final exhibition for both teams this preseason.
Last Time Out
• In the first exhibition of 2016, Wake Forest battled Furman to a scoreless draw in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, Aug. 14. • Wake Forest played 23 players in the game and outshot the Paladins 12-4, but could not break through for the goal. • The draw marked the second year in a row Wake Forest opened the season with an exhibition draw at Furman, tying Furman 1-1 last August in Greenville.
Series History
• In eight previous matchups against UNCW, the Demon Deacons hold a 5-2-1 record against the Seahawks and have won each of the last three contests.
• Last time these two teams met was during the 2009 season on Nov. 22. Battling No. 18 UNCW at Spry Stadium, the Demon Deacons earned a 2-1 win over UNCW.
• After going 2-2-1 in the first five matchups against UNCW, Wake Forest has won three-straight agmes over the Seahawks dating back to 1985. On Sept. 20, 2000, Wake Forest went to Wilmington, North Carolina, and came home with a 4-0 victory. Back on Oct. 9, 1985, the Deacs welcomed UNCW to Winston-Salem and picked up a 4-1 win.
• In five all-time victories over UNCW, Wake Forest is averaging 2.8 goals per game against the Seahawks. That figure is aided by the two four-goal performances and a 3-0 win on Oct. 10, 1982.
Scouting UNCW
• UNCW edged Gardner-Webb in Wilmington on Monday night in its first exhibition of 2016. Freshman defender Mark Lindstrom scored the game's only goal in the 54th minute at UNCW Soccer Stadium to lift the Seahawks to the win.
• A season ago, Colin Bonner led the Seahawks with seven goals and six assists while Ben Fisher chipped in six goals and five assists. A senior-laden team last year, though, UNCW will be tasked with replacing three of its top four scorers from 2015 and its goalkeeper, who played in 19 games for the Seahawks throughout the season. • UNCW finished tied for third in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) with 32 goals a season ago and only allowed 23, which marked the second fewest in the conference behind College of Charleston's 22 allowed. • The lone common opponent for the Deacs and Seahawks is NC State. The Demon Deacons will welcome the Wolfpack to Spry Stadium on Sept. 24 and NC State will travel to Wilmington on Oct. 19.
Wake Forest Storylines
• In the NSCAA and College Soccer News preseason polls, Wake Forest has been picked No. 5 in the nation. Stanford, who topped Wake Forest in Winston-Salem in the Elite Eight last December on the way to winning the national championship, was picked No. 1 in both polls.
• Released on Wednesday morning, Wake Forest was picked to finish second in the ACC Atlantic Division behind Clemson. Wake Forest picked up six first-place votes and 62 points while Clemson earned six first-place votes, but 64 points overall. On the larger picture, the Demon Deacons also received one vote to take home the 2016 overall ACC title. Wake Forest is looking to improve upon last season's regular season title when the Deacs went 6-0-2 in ACC play, marking the third unbeaten conference season in program history.
• The Demon Deacons are coming off a perfect spring campaign in which they went 8-0 across contests in Spain and in the United States. Through the eight games, Wake Forest scored 17 goals and did not allow one.
• After scoring six goals over the course of the first four spring contests in the U.S., the Deacs put up a four-goal outburst at Spring Soccer Fest against VCU in front of 1,514 fans at Spry Stadium.
• The Demon Deacons this season return eight starters, including senior captains Ian Harkes, Jacori Hayes and Alec Ferrell. The Deacs also welcome 10 newcomers to the fold, including the likes of Gatorade Maryland Player of the Year Michael DeShields and Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year Ema Twumasi.
Up Next
• With preseason competition in the books after Saturday's UNCW exhibition, Wake Forest will set sights on the 2016 regular season opener on Friday, Aug. 26, against Saint Louis. First kick is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Spry Stadium.
• The matchup marks the first of six-straight games played at Spry Stadium. Wake Forest will follow the Saint Louis match with a contest Sunday, Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. against Cal Poly.
• Tickets are on sale now through the Wake Forest Ticket Office online or by calling (336) 758-DEAC (3322). Tickets can also be purchased the day of the game at Spry Stadium.
