Demon Deacons Opening the Regular Season Hosting VCU

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest's No. 7 ranked men's soccer team will open the 2021 season this Thursday hosting Atlantic 10 foe VCU at Spry Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will air live on ACC Network Extra.

The match will be the first of 16 regular season contests for the Demon Deacons, 11 of which will be played in front of the home crowd.

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 6 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. A complete list of prohibited items for Spry Stadium and Chyzowych Hill is located here, which includes metal or hard-framed chairbacks/seat cushions (soft, non-metal chairbacks are allowed). Additionally, all animals are also prohibited (excluding service animals).

Ticket Information
The best way to enjoy Demon Deacon soccer throughout the 2021 season is through the purchase of Season Tickets. Packages start at only $45 for adults or $25 for youth and seniors.

For those wishing to purchase single-game admission for Spry Stadium, advance purchases are highly encouraged. Single game chairback seats are available for only $20, while bleacher admission is $10 and general admission seating on Walt Chyzowich Alumni Hill is $5.

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 at 336-758-3322 ext. 1. 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.

The Matchup

Wake Forest enters the 2021 season ranked No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, which was released three weeks ago.
The Demon Deacons have now been ranked in the top-25 of the United Soccer Coaches poll for 87-straight weeks and the top-10 for 67-straight weeks.
VCU finished the 2020-21 season with a record of 4-3-2. The Rams recorded a 3-2-1 record in A10 play.
The last matchup between the two schools was on Sept. 24, 2013, as the Demon Deacons took down the then-No. 17 Rams 2-1.
Thursday's match will mark the eighth all-time meeting between the programs. The Demon Deacons hold a 5-0-2 record against the Rams.

Last Time Out

The Demon Deacons finished the 2020-21 season with a 13-3-2 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship for the fifth time under current head coach Bobby Muuss.
Twenty-five different Deacs appeared in the team's two exhibitions earlier this month against Furman and Coastal Carolina.

Quick Hits

The Deacs come into the new season with the No.1-ranked recruiting class according to TopDrawerSoccer.com. Five of the newest additions to the roster earned a top-150 ranking in the Class of 2021.
Leading goal scorer Kyle Holcomb tallied nine goals and two assists during the 2020-21 season. The senior comes into his fourth season with a chance to break into the top-10 in program history for both goals and points. He was recently named to the ACC Preseason Watch List, the College Soccer News Preseason All-American Third Team, and Top Drawer Soccer's Preseason Best XI Second Team.
Junior defender Nico Benalcazar was recently honored by TopDrawerSoccer as a member of the Preseason Best XI First-Team. Benalcazar has started the last 22 games in a row for the Demon Deacons, most on the current squad.
Fellow senior Holland Rula has become a mainstay on the Deacs' backline, starting 17 games in the 2020-21 season. He also notched three assists, tied for second-most in the team.

Scouting the Rams

VCU completed the 2020-21 season in second place in the one-time central division of the A10.
The Rams finished their season on a winning note, winning their last two outings against George Washington and George Mason.
Were picked to finish in fifth place in the conference's preseason poll behind Fordham, St. Louis, Dayton and UMass.

Looking Ahead

Wake Forest will host Bucknell at Spry Stadium on Sunday night for a first-kick scheduled for 7 p.m. The match will be broadcasted on the ACC Network.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Nico Benalcazar

Kyle Holcomb

Holland Rula

Wake Forest Athletics