Wake Forest University
Cleveland State
No. 20 Deacs Shut Down Cleveland State
9/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Final Stats | Final Stats (PDF) 
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeMSoccer)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Twentieth-ranked Wake Forest men's soccer notched its first shutout of the 2016 season Saturday night at Spry Stadium with a 1-0 defeat of Cleveland State.
The victory moves Wake Forest to 2-1 on the season while previously unbeaten Cleveland State drops to 2-1. Now all-time, Wake Forest is 3-0 against the Vikings with wins over CSU in two of the last three seasons.
The Demon Deacons got on the board in the 17th minute when Jacori Hayes got his head on a cross into the box from Alex Knox. Brad Dunwell sent a ball from midfield to Knox on the right sideline and he took it down toward the end line. Knox crossed to the far left post and Hayes made a run into the box to connect with the cross, putting the attempt home for his first tally of the year.
Saturday's goal in the 17th minute marked the second game in a row Wake Forest has scored nearly 20 minutes into a game. Last weekend against Cal Poly on Sunday, Aug. 28, Steven Echevarria notched the first Wake Forest goal in the 20th minute. All three of Wake Forest's goals on the young season have come in the first half.
After firing seven shots in the first frame, Wake Forest put the pressure on in the final 30 minutes of the contest with chance after chance. Hayes had multiple opportunities in the 68th and 69th minutes to give the Deacs breathing room, but his first chance was stopped by the keeper and his second -- a header off a corner kick - sailed just over the crossbar.
Chasing the game looking for an equalizer, Cleveland State put pressure on the Wake Forest defense at various points throughout the second half but the Demon Deacons stood strong as Andreu Cases Mundet notched the first shutout of his career. He made two saves in the contest and the Wake Forest defense thwarted multiple attempts at the edge of the box to keep the Vikings off the board. Coming into the game, CSU was tied for third nationally with seven goals in its first two games.
Overall, the Deacs outshot Cleveland State 18-7 on the evening with 10 of the Wake Forest shots on target. CSU starting goalkeeper Aleksander Drobac made seven saves in the first 85 minutes of action, but he was forced to give way to Sebastian Kalk in the 86th minute after a collision in the box with Logan Gdula.
The Demon Deacons return to action Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Spry Stadium for a matchup against Appalachian State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. Tuesday's game will mark the 22nd matchup all-time between the Deacs and Mountaineers with Wake Forest owning a 19-2 record all-time against ASU.
