Wake Forest Athletics
Weekend Preview: Men's Soccer & Skip Prosser Classic Highlight Action Packed Weekend for Deacs
12/12/2019 3:25:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Les Johns
Check out what’s on tap in Wake Forest Athletics this weekend:
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Last weekend Wake Forest began the 30th Anniversary celebration of Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum, won an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight men's soccer match at Spry Stadium and learned the football Deacs were headed to New York in late December for the Pinstripe Bowl.
The best way to top that this week?
Bring home a national championship.
Blessed and excited. pic.twitter.com/rsAXXn8ACC
— Bobby Muuss (@CoachBobbyMuuss) December 12, 2019
Here's what's on tap in Wake Forest Athletics this weekend:
Friday - NCAA Men's Soccer College Cup
No. 4 seed Wake Forest (16-4-2, 6-2) vs. No. 1 seed Virginia (20-1-1, 6-1-1)
WakeMed Soccer Park - Cary, N.C. - 8:30 p.m.
Wake Forest is making its sixth appearance in the College Cup, all taking place in the last 15 years. The Deacs have participated in the NCAA Tournament for nine-straight and 18 of the last 19 seasons. Wake won the championship in 2007, right there at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.
The Deacs face a formidable foe Friday night, having lost in Charlottesville, Virginia to the top-seeded Cavaliers in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament just four weeks ago. But with Cary being a short 100-mile drive away from Winston-Salem, it provides a great opportunity for Deacon Nation to invade WakeMed Soccer Park and cheer the team on to a national championship berth.
"Being just up the road, we don't have a great deal of travel," Wake Forest coach Bobby Muuss said about the home-state advantage this weekend. "We didn't have to organize flights for a bunch of different people to get there, so logistics was easier. We can focus a little more on soccer.
"To be in your home state in the College Cup — a lot of people talk about the '07 championship being there, and that's incredible. But it's two totally different teams, but it's the same opportunity. We want to do everything we can to bring that trophy home to Winston."
When you wake up and it sinks in that we're going to the COLLEGE CUP! pic.twitter.com/J4QgSt9C69
— Wake Men's Soccer (@WakeMSoccer) December 8, 2019
Saturday - Men's Basketball - Skip Prosser Classic
Wake Forest (5-5, 0-2) vs.No. 23 Xavier (9-1)
LJVM Coliseum - 4 p.m.
The Deacs and Musketeers take the hardwood Saturday afternoon in the seventh installment of the Skip Prosser Classic, a game created to honor the legacy of the late coach at both programs. Prosser coached at Xavier from 1995-2001, where he claimed 148 wins, then took over in Winston-Salem, leading the Deacs to 126 wins from 2002-07.
Sharing the court for the first time since the 2016-17 season, @WakeMBB will renew its series with Xavier as part of the Skip Prosser Classic. The legendary coach won a combined 274 games as head coach at both schools. #GoDeacs pic.twitter.com/Q7Gctpv7gx
— Wake Forest Sports (@DemonDeacons) December 12, 2019
"Coach Skip was a man who impacted lives on and off the court," Wake Forest coach Danny Manning said after practice Thursday. "This is a way for his legacy to continue. The impact he had at both Xavier and Wake will always be felt in some way or fashion. We still have his quotes up on our walls, and our players see that when they take the floor heading to the practice gym."
As it turns out, Manning and Prosser shared the same agent, Ron Grinker.
"I knew Coach Skip when he was at Xavier and spent a lot of time in Cincinnati because my agent was there," Manning said. "He always welcomed me with open arms, gave me a chance to use the gym and things of that nature.
"He was an incredible person, great basketball coach, and had a big impact on both schools."
MORE THAN JUST A COACH!
— Wake Basketball (@WakeMBB) December 11, 2019
Skip Prosser's legacy goes far beyond the basketball court for those he encountered every day.#GoDeacs🎩🏀 | #WakeWednesday pic.twitter.com/XPGPgRvkPg
Sunday - NCAA Men's Soccer College Cup
No. 4 seed Wake Forest vs. No. 3 seed Georgetown or No. 7 seed Stanford
WakeMed Soccer Park - Cary, N.C. - 6 p.m.
The Deacs want to remain in Cary through Sunday night to play for the national championship against either Georgetown or Stanford, but will have to advance past Virginia on Friday to earn a spot in this game.
Stanford has been a thorn in the side of the Deacs in recent years, ending Wake's NCAA run three-straight seasons from 2015-17. The Deacs fell in overtime in 2015 and lost to the Cardinals via penalty kicks in the 2016 championship game.
Monday - Women's Basketball School Day
Wake Forest vs. Campell
LJVM Coliseum - 11 a.m.
While technically not the weekend, it's still a fun event to note. Wake Forest women's basketball will host thousands of local school children for an annual event that promises to provide one of the loudest environments of the season in Joel Coliseum.
