Wake Forest University
10-2-1, 7-1-1
University of Notre Dame
8-6-0, 4-4-0
Wake Forest Scores Another Thrilling Comeback Victory
3/20/2021 10:04:00 PM | Men's Soccer
After twice falling behind against Notre Dame, Wake Forest scored two goals in the final 15 minutes of play to secure three road points.
SOUTH BEND, IND. -- Going down by a goal on two separate occasions, No. 5 Wake Forest (10-2-1, 2-0-1) scored two goals in the last 15 minutes to secure three road points in a 3-2 victory over Notre Dame (8-6-0, 1-2-0) on Saturday night.
After freshman Ryan Fessler struck from well outside the 18-yard box in the 76th minute, junior Kyle Holcomb took a cross from freshman Jahlane Forbes to beat Notre Dame goalkeeper Keagan McLaughlin in the 89th minute to put Wake Forest ahead just before the final whistle.
How It Happened
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After goalkeeper Cole McNally made an early save on a sixth-minute shot from Notre Dame's Jack Lynn, the Fighting Irish took an early lead when Dawson McCartney scored in the eighth minute.
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In total, McNally faced five shots in the first half, saving two.
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Wake Forest tied it up exactly 10 minutes after McCartney found the back of the net, as an end-to-end effort from the Demon Deacons ended with an Omar Hernandez goal.
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It was the first goal Notre Dame conceded in the Fighting Irish's last 287 minutes of play. Coming into the contest, Notre Dame had logged six clean sheets on the year.
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In the 50th minute, McNally made a diving, one-handed save to stop McCartney from earning brace.
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Notre Dame would take a 2-1 lead in the 70th minute when Aiden McFadden struck for the fourth time this season.
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Fessler, however, pulled Wake Forest back even in the 76th minute when his long-range strike wasn't hauled in by McLaughin.
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Holcomb would find the back of the net in the 89th minute for his sixth goal of the season and his first of the spring.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
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Sophomore Nico Benalacazar made his 25th career start.
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Hernandez's goal sets a new single-season high for the sophomore, as he also scored an 85th-minute rocket in a 2-1 victory over Duke in the fall. He had one tally as a freshman against High Point.
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A mid-year enrollee, the goal was the first of Fessler's collegiate career.
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With the victory, head coach Bobby Muuss now has 99 career wins as head coach at Wake Forest.
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Wake Forest is now one of three teams to reach the 10-win mark this season, joining No. 1 Clemson and No. 7 Pittsburgh.
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The victory gives Wake Forest its ninth-straight 10-win season and the 33rd overall in the program's 40-year history.
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It also marked the first time Wake Forest has defeated Notre Dame in South Bend.
Muuss' Musings
"Another thriller for this young Deacon team. I am amazed by the resilience they continue to show in super adverse times. We just came from behind again, and this time against a very good and well-coached Notre Dame team. The performances will continue to come if we continue to learn, play and fight for each other. But we got the result, and three points in this conference is no easy task. I am a proud Deacon coach tonight."
Up Next
Wake Forest will play its final home regular season match of the 2020-21 season on Saturday night when Louisville travels to Winston-Salem.
The Demon Deacons opened the 2020-21 season with a 3-1 victory over the Cardinals.
Team Stats
Dawson McCartney (1)
Assisted By: Reese Mayer
GOAL by ND McCartney, Dawson Assist by Mayer, Reese.
07:33
Omar Hernandez (2)
GOAL by WF Hernandez, Omar.
17:33
Aiden McFadden (4)
Assisted By: Daniel Russo , Townsend Meyer
GOAL by ND McFadden, Aiden Assist by Russo, Daniel and Meyer, Townsend.
69:24
Ryan Fessler (1)
Assisted By: Holland Rula
GOAL by WF Fessler, Ryan Assist by Rula, Holland.
75:12
Kyle Holcomb (6)
Assisted By: Jahlane Forbes , Ryan Fessler
GOAL by WF Holcomb, Kyle Assist by Forbes, Jahlane and Fessler, Ryan.
88:52
