Wake Forest University
Mercer University
Wake Forest To Begin NCAA Tournament with First Round Matchup Against Mercer
11/17/2021 1:44:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Demon Deacons will open their 11th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance at Spry Stadium against the Southern Conference champions.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The Wake Forest men's soccer team is set to host Mercer in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Thursday night at Spry Stadium. The Demon Deacons earned an at-large bid to extend their consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances streak to 11-straight.
It is the longest streak for any ACC school by five years and tied for the second-longest streak nationally.
Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the match will air live on ACC Network Extra.
Fan Information
A number of new fan experience enhancements are planned for the 2021 season. This includes expanded food and beverage options, including availability on Walt Chyzowych Alumni Hill, an enhanced in-game experience, featuring an expanded video board production with additional cameras, replay, and fan-engaging elements, as well as new immersive experiences to promote the unique culture that is known around professional and collegiate soccer.
Parking is encouraged in lots A, B, Q, W1 & W2. A complete parking map of campus is here.
Gates open at 5 p.m., or one hour prior to kickoff for all future home matches.
Wake Forest Athletics is committed to providing the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina within a safe and fan-friendly environment.
Complete fan information can be found here.
Ticket Information
Secure your spot for Thursday's NCAA Tournament match in Winston-Salem now, as tickets are available for purchase here or by calling the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 with reserved chairbacks at $15, bleacher general admission at $10 for adults and $5 for 12 and under. Tickets on both the Walt Chyzowych Alumni Hill and for students are $5 and children two years old and under are free.
The quickest and most efficient way to order tickets and take advantage of these new seating experiences is to visit GoDeacs.com/Tickets and purchase online or call the Wake Forest Ticket Office. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Complete ticket information for the season can be found here.
Health & Safety Protocols
Wake Forest Athletics works closely with Wake Forest University, Forsyth County and state officials to follow COVID-related guidelines for the safety of fans in attendance at Truist Field and all venues. While proof of vaccination is not currently required for spectators, we encourage vaccinations for all. We are proud that nearly 100% of Wake Forest Athletics student-athletes, staff and coaches are vaccinated, as required under University and Athletics policy. Currently, all academic buildings are closed to visitors, and masks are required in all indoor spaces. For additional information regarding steps the University is taking to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission on campus, we strongly encourage you to review the University's COVID-19 Notice.
Wake Forest has several gameday guidelines and strategies. First and foremost is required face coverings for all unvaccinated fans in attendance. Additionally, all fans must wear a mask indoors at all times, regardless of vaccination status. Wake Forest Athletics also requires all non-team personnel to be masked at all times inside the field enclosure.
The Matchup
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Wake Forest and Mercer will meet for the first time ever during Thursday night's NCAA Men's Soccer Championship first round match at Spry Stadium.
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The Demon Deacons enter the postseason contest with an 11-6-1 record this season highlighted by victories over four opponents also in the 48-team field (Pitt, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Loyola Maryland).
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The Bears, meanwhile, finished the regular season in second place in the Southern Conference before taking home the SoCon Tournament trophy by beating Belmont 4-3 in the championship game.
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The Deacs qualified for their 11th-straight NCAA Tournament and their 25th tournament appearance overall.
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Mercer is appearing in its fifth NCAA Tournament and the first since 2019.
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Wake Forest has won seven of its last 10 matches. The Deacs have outscored their opponents 29-10 during that span, highlighted by a 7-0 victory over Loyola Maryland and a 3-1 victory over then-No. 5 Virginia Tech.
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The Demon Deacons are playing in a first round NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2014.
Last Time Out
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Wake Forest on Nov. 7 fell at the hands of then-No. 13 Duke 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament.
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Redshirt junior Jake Swallen netted the game's first goal in the 27th minute. Swallen's penalty kick was saved by the Duke goalkeeper, but his follow-up effort found the bottom corner for his fifth goal of the season.
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Duke scored two goals in just two minutes shortly after, though, to give the Blue Devils a 2-1 edge.
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On the stroke of halftime, junior Nico Benalcazar headed home a Swallen corner kick to tie the game at two goals apiece heading into the break.
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Duke, though, would find the winning goal in the 77th minute to advance to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.
Wake Forest In The NCAA Tournament
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With its inclusion in this year's event, Wake Forest has now reached the NCAA Tournament 11-straight seasons.
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The streak is the longest in the ACC by five seasons (Virginia Tech, six).
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Additionally, Wake Forest is tied with Maryland for the second-longest NCAA Tournament appearances streak nationally, trailing only Indiana.
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Wake Forest, Indiana and Maryland are the only schools in the country to make the NCAA Tournament each of the last seven seasons.
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Wake Forest has reached these marks while playing in the toughest conference in the country.
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This season, the ACC once again has the most teams in the NCAA Tournament at eight. The MAC is second with five teams.
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This year will mark the 25th NCAA Tournament appearance in the program's 41-year history.
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Wake Forest has made the College Cup six times -- including twice under seventh-year head coach Bobby Muuss -- and won the 2007 National Championship.
Scouting The Bears
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Mercer (10-7-1) earned the SoCon's automatic bid by winning the conference tournament championship game over Belmont 4-3 last weekend.
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The Bears enter the NCAA Tournament winners of seven of their last eight matches.
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Mercer currently ranks No. 1 in the country in shot accuracy (.546) while averaging more than two goals per match.
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Three members of the team earned All-SoCon honors led by junior Ousman Jabang who has seven assists and four goals on the season.
Looking Ahead
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If Wake Forest defeats Mercer, the Demon Deacons will face FIU in a second round matchup at 6 p.m. on Sunday in Miami.
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The two sides have faced off five times before with the only previous meeting in Florida taking place on Sept. 23, 1994.
