Wake Forest University
Duke University
Wake Forest Matching up with Duke in ACC Tournament Quarterfinals
11/6/2021 8:50:00 AM | Men's Soccer
The Demon Deacons and Blue Devils will meet for a Sunday matinee with a spot in the ACC Tournament semifinals on the line.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest men's soccer will look to secure a spot in the 2021 ACC Men's Soccer Championship semifinals on Sunday afternoon, as the Demon Deacons are set to face Duke in a quarterfinals showdown at Koskinen Stadium.
The Demon Deacons are the No. 6 seed in this year's tournament while Duke is the No. 3 seed as the Blue Devils were co-Coastal Division champions alongside Pitt.
Kick-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the match will air nationally on the ACC Network.
The Matchup
-
Wake Forest and Duke will meet for the 49th time on Sunday in an ACC Men's Soccer Championship quarterfinals matchup.
-
Wake Forest trails in the all-time series 17-23-8 but is looking for its fifth-straight win over the Blue Devils.
-
The most recent meeting between the two sides came during the fall portion of the 2020-21 season when the Demon Deacons beat the Blue Devils 2-1 on a late free kick from Omar Hernandez.
-
The Demon Deacons enter this match with an 11-5-1 record on the campaign following a 3-0 win over Virginia in the first round of the ACC Tournament.
-
The Blue Devils, meanwhile, hold a 11-3-1 record and are ranked No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Their most recent result was a 3-2 overtime win over Virginia last Friday to conclude the regular season.
-
Wake Forest has won seven of its last eight appearances on the pitch. The Deacs have outscored their opponents 27-7 during that span, highlighted by a 7-0 victory over Loyola Maryland and a 3-1 victory over then-No. 5 Virginia Tech.
-
The Demon Deacons will look to extend their unbeaten streak over the Blue Devils dating back to Sept. 21, 2012.
Last Time Out
-
Wake Forest took down Virginia in the first round of the ACC Tournament on Wednesday night, as the Demon Deacons earned a 3-0 decision. It marked the first postseason victory over the Cavaliers in program history.
-
The Demon Deacons have now reached a double-digit win total for 10-straight seasons and 34 times in the program's 41-year history. They currently have 11 wins on the campaign.
-
Junior Omar Hernandez opened the scoring in the 21st minute with his fifth strike of the season off a right-footed shot.
-
The Deacs doubled their advantage in the 42nd minute when senior Kyle Holcomb connected on a corner kick from redshirt junior Jake Swallen. The goal was Holcomb's ninth of the season and 30th of his career.
-
Freshman Leo Guarino bagged his first-career goal in the 69th minute. Sophomore Garrison Tubbs and junior David Wrona combined to provide the assists.
-
Tubbs' two-assist effort was the second multipoint game of his career while it was Wrona's first tally of the season.
-
Freshman Trace Alphin recorded his second-straight shutout and third of the season.
Quick Hits
-
Alphin was named the ACC's Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday following his performance against Syracuse. His eight saves were the most by a Demon Deacon goalkeeper since the 2016 season.
-
Wake Forest is 8-1-0 this season when Holcomb scores.
-
Holcomb now ranks in the top-10 in program history in both career goals (30) and career points (68).
Scouting the Blue Devils
-
Thorleifur Ulfarsson has registered a majority of Duke's goals this season, as he has scored 11 of the team's 33 goals. Seven other players have scored at least two goals on the campaign.
-
Eliot Hamel has appeared in 13 matches in goal this season, recording 51 saves with a 1.04 goals against average.
-
The Blue Devils are 7-2-0 at home this season
Looking Ahead
-
If Wake Forest advances against Duke, the Demon Deacons will face either North Carolina or Clemson in a semifinals match next Wednesday.
