Wake Forest University
14-4-0, 5-3-0
Virginia Tech
3-14-1, 0-8-0
Hernandez’s Strike, Clean Sheet Push Wake Forest to ACC Tournament Semifinals
11/6/2022 5:36:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Demon Deacons recorded their second-straight clean sheet while senior Omar Hernandez logged the match’s only goal in a 1-0 victory over Virginia Tech.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Behind a spectacular free kick goal from senior Omar Hernandez and the team's eighth clean sheet this season, the No. 4 seeded Wake Forest men's soccer team (14-4-0, 5-3-0 ACC) downed No. 12 seeded Virginia Tech (3-14-1, 0-8-0 ACC) 1-0 in a Sunday afternoon ACC Tournament quarterfinals clash at Spry Stadium.
After the two sides went into the halftime break level at zero goals apiece, Hernandez provided magic off of a 62nd-minute free kick at the top of the 18-yard box for the only goal of the match. The strike was the first goal of the season for the senior and the 13th of his career.
Defensively, Wake Forest held Virginia Tech to three shots on goal – which were all saved by sophomore Trace Alphin – to record the team's fourth clean sheet against an ACC opponent in 2022.
Wake Forest will now turn its attention to Wednesday night's ACC Tournament semifinals action, hosting No. 8 seed Clemson for a 7 p.m. kick with the match televised on the ACC Network.
How It Happened
-
Sophomore Roald Mitchell rocketed the first shot of the contest in the sixth minute as Virginia Tech's Ben Martino would get a glove on it to keep it 0-0 early.
-
The Hokies tested sophomore Trace Alphin on back-to-back shots in the 10th minute, but the Raleigh, N.C., native stepped up with two huge saves.
-
Sophomore Ryan Fessler nearly got his third career goal in the 22nd minute, as he got a head off a corner kick from freshman Cooper Flax but it hit off the crossbar.
-
At the 27-minute mark of the first half, the two teams entered the locker room for an inclement weather delay that lasted 38 minutes.
-
Senior Takuma Suzuki almost netted his first career goal just seconds after play resumed, getting a head on an in-swinging cross from junior Jahlane Forbes that went wide of the frame.
-
Niang logged consecutive shots in the 30th minute, the first being blocked with the second being saved by Martino.
-
Freshman Vlad Walent continued the Deacon offensive pursuit late in the first half, collecting Wake Forest's ninth shot of the opening frame in the 42nd minute.
-
Wake Forest opened the second half on the front foot, with Walent and sophomore Julian Kennedy each recording shots in the first four minutes out of the break.
-
Senior Omar Hernandez broke open the scoring in the 62nd minute with a vintage direct free kick strike for his first goal of the season.
-
The goal was the 13th career strike for the Dalton, Ga., native and his first since a 3-0 victory over Virginia in last year's ACC Tournament.
-
-
The Deacs would get another dangerous free kick opportunity just two minutes later but Hernandez's desired brace was denied.
-
Alphin would collect his third save of the match in the 74th minute, hauling in a shot by Virginia Tech's Conor Pugh.
-
Wake Forest finished the match with a 15-5 advantage in shots and 4-0 advantage in corner kicks.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
-
With the victory, Wake Forest has reached 94 home victories since the start of the 2015 season. It is 21 more home victories than any other NCAA Division I men's soccer program during that span (Indiana, 73).
-
The victory was also the 129th overall for the Demon Deacons over the last eight seasons, 15 more than any other NCAA Division I men's soccer program during that span (Indiana, 114).
-
Wake Forest has reached 11 home wins this season as well, most in the country for the 2022 campaign.
-
At 14 victories, Wake Forest has the second-most overall victories this season trailing only current No. 1 Washington's 15 wins.
-
The Demon Deacons are now 24-3-2 all-time against the Hokies and undefeated against Virginia Tech in eight-straight meetings.
-
Wake Forest is also 3-0-1 all-time against Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament and has won 14-straight matches against the Hokies in Winston-Salem.
-
The Demon Deacons have advanced to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament for the first time since the 2019 season and the sixth time under head coach Bobby Muuss.
-
Junior Prince Amponsah earned his 45th career start.
-
Junior Garrison Tubbs earned his 40th career start.
-
Junior Colin Thomas made his 45th career appearance in his 17th start this season.
-
Sophomore Ryan Fessler made his 45th career appearance in his 10th start this season.
-
Sophomore Julian Kennedy made his 35th career appearance.
From Coach Muuss
"I thought it was a pretty good performance. You've got to tip your hat to each and every one of the Virginia Tech student-athletes and coaching staff. They were good today and did exactly what they did: they bent, but didn't break and it took a great goal from Omar from outside the 18 on a restart to beat them. I thought our guys stuck to it. We had a good run of play and then lightning came. I think people don't understand how difficult that is. You're in for 30 minutes, then you go back in for halftime 19 minutes later and then you're back out again. I think it was a great, resilient win. I'm happy to advance and get our 14th win." - Bobby Muuss
Up Next
Wake Forest will face Clemson on Wednesday night at Spry Stadium with a spot in the ACC Championship on the line. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
Omar Hernandez (1)
GOAL by WFU Hernandez, Omar.
61:07
