Wake Forest University
3-0-0, 0-0-0
University of Alabama at Birmingham
2-1-0, 0-0-0
Wake Forest Scores Two Second Half Goals In 2-0 Win Over UAB
9/3/2022 11:10:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Through three points from sophomore Baba Niang, the Demon Deacons converted two second half goals in the victory over the Blazers.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Behind two second half goals in a seven-minute span, Wake Forest's No. 5 ranked men's soccer team (3-0-0, 0-0-0 ACC) defeated UAB (2-1-0, 0-0-0 AAC) 2-0 on Saturday night at PNC Field.
The two sides went into the halftime break knotted at 0-0 despite the Deacs holding a 9-2 advantage in the shot column. However, Wake Forest's heavy pressure would finally pay off in the later stages of the match, as sophomores Leo Guarino and Baba Niang scored in the 68th and 75th minutes respectively.
Niang would set up Guarino for his goal while the Dakar, Senegal, native converted on a penalty kick after being taken down in the box.
Wake Forest will return to Winston-Salem for a Tuesday night showdown with Winthrop at Spry Stadium. The Eagles are coming off a pair of losses to open the 2022 season, most recently falling to Georgia State 5-1 this past Friday.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
How It Happened
-
Freshman Cooper Flax nearly got the Deacs on the board just 14 seconds into the match, as his shot from distance just went over the crossboard. It was the first of two shots in the first four minutes from the Dix Hills, N.Y., native.
-
The Deacon pressure continued, as sophomore Roald Mitchell tried to capitalize on a sixth minute breakaway, but his attempt sailed to the right of the goal.
-
Wake Forest remained on the front foot throughout the opening 45 minutes, collecting nine shots to UAB's two.
-
UAB wouldn't collect its first shot until the 31st minute, as sophomore Trace Alphin was tested twice in a 94-second span but neither attempt troubled the Raleigh, N.C., native.
-
-
Sophomore Baba Niang made his season debut, entering the match in the 32nd minute.
-
The Deacs had an early opportunity to strike in the second half, as Flax took a free kick just outside of the 18-yard box that was saved. This was followed 53 seconds later by junior Chase Oliver having a go of his own, but his attempt was saved by the shinguards of UAB goalkeeper Jack Hudson.
-
In the 61st minute, Mitchell took a cross from redshirt sophomore Cristian Escribano but his diving header was saved.
-
Wake Forest finally found the back of the net in the 68th minute, as sophomore Leo Guarino turned the UAB defense in the box to create enough separation to beat Hudson.
-
The goal was the second for Guarino in his second season with the Deacs while Niang was credited with his first career assist.
-
The two linked up only two minutes after both entered the match.
-
-
The Demon Deacons doubled their lead in the 75th minute as Niang put home a penalty kick attempt into the bottom left of the goal.
-
It was the second career goal for Niang and the first three-point performance as a Deac.
-
-
Helping preserve the clean sheet, freshman Samuel Jones made his collegiate debut in the 82nd minute.
-
In total, Wake Forest outshot UAB 15-5 while holding the Blazers without a shot on goal.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
-
With the victory, Wake Forest is now 4-0-0 all-time against UAB with two of those victories coming in the last three seasons.
-
Marks career win No. 192 for head coach Bobby Muuss and his 118th at the helm foer the Demon Deacons.
-
Wake Forest utilized the same Starting XI in the team's pair of opening weekend wins against UCF and Air Force.
-
This was Wake Forest's first-ever appearance in the state of Alabama.
-
Junior Hosei Kijima earned his 30th career start along with a team-best 23 consecutive selections in the Starting XI.
-
Junior Chase Oliver made his 40th career appearance.
-
Junior Colin Thomas made his 30th career appearance in the start.
-
Sophomore Ryan Fessler made his 30th career appearance.
-
Sophomore Trace Alphin made his 20th career appearance.
From Coach Muuss
"I think it was a great team performance. Our best performance of the year from start to finish. There were some moments of craziness and maybe not the best decisions with and without the ball, but a really good collective team win tonight against a really organized, well-coached UAB team. Different players stepped up at different times–Baba with first appearance of the season, making a difference in the game. Leo with the minutes that he played, to get a goal in that short period of time. Chase gave us good minutes, Sidney gave us good minutes off the bench. Samuel Jones makes his debut to lock it up in the back. Ryan Fessler, I thought, was great in the second half to really lock things up in a time of need. But just a really good team performance." – Bobby Muuss
Up Next
Wake Forest will return home for two matches next week, starting with Winthrop on Tuesday night at Spry Stadium.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will air on ACC Network Extra. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Team Stats
Leo Guarino (1)
Assisted By: Babacar Niang
GOAL by WAKE Guarino, Leo Assist by Niang, Babacar.
67:48
Babacar Niang
WAKE Babacar Niang PENALTY KICK GOAL.
74:07
