Wake Forest University
4-0-0, 0-0-0
Winthrop University
0-3-0, 0-0-0
Demon Deacons Score 5-1 Tuesday Night Victory Over Winthrop
9/6/2022 9:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Through seven points from Roald Mitchell on the attacking end, Wake Forest defeated Winthrop 5-1 to run the current home winning streak to 10-straight matches.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Propelled by four first half goals, Wake Forest's No. 4 ranked men's soccer team (4-0-0, 0-0-0 ACC) defeated Winthrop (0-3-0, 0-0-0 Big South) by a final of 5-1 on Tuesday night at Spry Stadium.
The Deacs took a four-goal lead into the halftime break as sophomore Roald Mitchell scored twice while junior Hosei Kijima and sophomore Julian Kennedy also collected goals in the first 45 minutes of play.
In the second half, Winthrop would get a goal back in the 64th minute but Wake Forest would go on to secure its largest victory of the season so far as Mitchell capped off the night by converting on an 84th-minute penalty kick to make it 5-1 and seal his first Demon Deacon hat trick.
Wake Forest finished the night with sizable gaps in possession (65-35), shots (31-5) and corner kicks (15-2).
Wake Forest will remain at home this Saturday to host NC State in the ACC opener for both sides. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
How It Happened
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The Demon Deacons struck first in the 11th minute, as sophomore Roald Mitchell put the finishing touches on an end-to-end Wake Forest run with juniors Hosei Kijima and Colin Thomas recorded the assists.
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The goal was the first of the season for Mitchell while Kijima picked up career assist No. 8 and Thomas logged career assist No. 4.
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Wake Forest doubled its lead in the 17th minute, as Mitchell returned the favor to Kijima who put home his second goal of the season.
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The assist was the first of the season for Mitchell.
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Redshirt sophomore Cristian Escribano opened the scoring opportunity by forcing a turnover and recording his first assist since March 6, 2021.
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The lead grew to 3-0 in the 19th minute, as the Deacs cranked up the pressure to force Winthrop into turning the ball over inside of its own 18-yard box as freshman Cooper Flax passed the ball across the goalmouth to find Mitchell.
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Wake Forest increased its lead to 4-0 just before the halftime break, as sophomore Julian Kennedy delivered for the fourth time in his career and the first time in 2022.
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Junior transfer Sidney Paris picked up his first assist as a Demon Deacon on the goal.
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Taking a 4-0 lead into the break, the Deacs held significant advantages in possession (71-29), shots (18-1) and corner kicks (11-0) through the first 45 minutes.
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Wake Forest would not concede its first corner kick until the 53rd minute, but the backline held strong and did not allow a shot.
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In the 56th minute, junior Oscar Sears provided a dangerous free kick opportunity just outside of the 18, but his shot off the restart hit the top of the crossbar.
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The Eagles got a goal back in the 64th minute, as Winthrop's Aiden Williams struck for the second time this season.
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Flax nearly got his first goal of the season in the 70th minute, but his shot went just wide of the frame.
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Mitchell sealed a memorable night off with his first collegiate hat trick, finishing off a penalty kick attempt in the 84th minute.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
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With the victory, Wake Forest has now won 10-straight matches at Spry Stadium dating back to a 4-0 decision over William & Mary on Oct. 5, 2021.
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Over the course of the team's 10-match home winning streak, Wake Forest has outscored opponents 32-4.
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With the outcome, Wake Forest has now won 86 home matches since the start of the 2015 season – 19 more than any other team in the country during that span.
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Wake Forest now leads the all-time series against Winthrop 3-0-0.
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Senior Takuma Suzuki earned his 40th career start.
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Junior Jahlane Forbes made his 25th career start in his 35th career appearance.
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Junior Hosei Kijima made his 40th career appearance in his team-best 24th straight start.
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Redshirt junior Cole McNally made his 15th career start.
From Coach Muuss
"We're happy to be 4-0. You just never know how a midweek game is going to go. We always say that these games are dangerous. Teams come in with nothing to lose and obviously right now, with the way the season has started, we have a lot to lose and we need these results. I'm happy with the scoreline in the first half. It maybe was not the greatest performance in the second half. It was extremely ugly at times, but at the same time if you told me at the beginning of the day that we were going to win 5-1 and get to play every healthy field player that we have right now – knowing that we have a couple of more guys coming back from injury here in the next week – it is exciting." – Bobby Muuss
Up Next
Wake Forest and NC State will face off for the 50th time in Saturday night's ACC opener. The Demon Deacons currently hold a 31-11-7 advantage in the all-time series and are 17-4-2 at home against the Wolfpack.
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
Roald Mitchell (2)
Assisted By: Colin Thomas , Hosei Kijima
GOAL by WFU Mitchell, Roald Assist by Thomas, Colin and Kijima, Hosei.
10:01
Hosei Kijima (2)
Assisted By: Roald Mitchell , Cristian Escribano
GOAL by WFU Kijima, Hosei Assist by Mitchell, Roald and Escribano, Cristian.
16:32
Roald Mitchell (2)
Assisted By: Cooper Flax
GOAL by WFU Mitchell, Roald Assist by Flax, Cooper.
18:09
Julian Kennedy (1)
Assisted By: Sidney Paris , Leo Guarino
GOAL by WFU Kennedy, Julian Assist by Paris, Sidney and Guarino, Leo.
36:09
Aiden Williams (2)
Assisted By: Jayden Mace
GOAL by WIN Williams, Aiden Assist by Mace, Jayden.
63:46
Roald Mitchell (2)
WFU Roald Mitchell PENALTY KICK GOAL.
83:43
