Wake Forest University
10-5-1, 4-3-1
Syracuse University
8-7-2, 2-5-1
Complete Team Performance Caps 2-0 Wake Forest Victory Against Syracuse
10/29/2021 9:37:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Demon Deacons earned their first ACC shutout of the season as Wake Forest reached a double-digit win total for the 10th-straight season.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest men's soccer (10-5-1, 4-3-1) scored its 10th win of the regular season on Friday night as the Demon Deacons defeated Syracuse (8-7-2, 2-5-1) 2-0 at Spry Stadium.
Two minutes after making his return to the field since the regular season opener, freshman Babacar Niang struck for the first time in his collegiate career to put the Demon Deacons up in the 39th minute.
Senior Kyle Holcomb extended Wake Forest's lead to 2-0 in the 50th minute to secure the victory for the Demon Deacons.
Freshman Trace Alphin recorded a season-high eight saves to preserve his first ACC clean sheet.
Prior to the start of the match, the program honored Holcomb, Holland Rula and Aristotle Zarris for Senior Night. Over the last four seasons, Wake Forest has accumulated 57 victories, second-most in the country during that span, while also being ranked 54 weeks. Seventeen of those weeks ranked nationally Wake Forest held the No. 1 spot.
The Demon Deacons will now turn their attention to the ACC Tournament which begins on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
How It Happened
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Wake Forest in the 13th minute had an early chance when junior Omar Hernandez's shot from outside the 18-yard box hit off the post.
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The Deacs continued to apply pressure on the Orange. Junior David Wrona's shot forced the Syracuse goalkeeper into a diving save.
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Freshman Babacar Niang opened the scoring in the first half with a lethal strike from outside the 18-yard box in the 39th minute. Sophomore Garrison Tubbs logged his second career assist on the goal.
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Wake Forest held possession for 55 percent of the first half.
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The Demon Deacons doubled their lead in the 50th minute, as senior Kyle Holcomb scored his 29th career goal on an assist from Hernandez. Holcomb's 66 career points ranked No. 13 in program history as well.
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Freshman Trace Alphin made four-straight saves between the 65th and 70th minutes. He finished the night with eight saves total.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
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Senior Holland Rula made his 70th career appearance.
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Redshirt junior Jake Swallen made his 45th career appearance.
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Junior Takuma Suzuki made his 40th career appearance.
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Freshman Babacar Niang made his first appearance since the season opener on Aug. 26, checking in at the 37th minute and playing 18 minutes.
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Wake Forest has now reached a double-digit win total for the 10th-straight season and for the 34th time in the program's 41-year history.
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With the outcome, Wake Forest now leads the all-time series against Syracuse 5-2-2.
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The Demon Deacons are 5-0-1 at home against Syracuse dating back to their first showdown on Sept. 4, 1993.
Muuss' Musings
"It was good. Hats off to Syracuse, I think we played a really good team. I thought that was one of the better collective groups that we have played. They caused us a lot of problems. They got in behind us a lot more than any team this season. We caused ourselves some problems, too. They threw some different things at us tonight and we navigated through it. We got some really good goals along the way and some great individual efforts, which was pretty awesome. We're just happy to get another win and getting to your 10th win in college soccer is not easy to do. I think people take that for granted. It's our fourth win in the ACC so it's a good feeling."
Up Next
Wake Forest will begin the ACC Tournament at Spry Stadium on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
Team Stats
Babacar Niang (1)
Assisted By: Garrison Tubbs
GOAL by WFU Niang, Babacar Assist by Tubbs, Garrison.
38:38
Kyle Holcomb (8)
Assisted By: Omar Hernandez
GOAL by WFU Holcomb, Kyle Assist by Hernandez, Omar.
49:05
