Friday, October 20
Winston-Salem, N.C.
8:00 PM
Wake Forest University
11-1-4, 4-1-2
1
vs
1
Notre Dame
10-1-4, 5-0-2
1
2
F
Notre Dame
0
1
1
Wake Forest
0
1
1
No. 3 Wake Forest’s Unbeaten Streak Reaches 11-Straight with Draw Against No. 6 Notre Dame
10/20/2023 11:08:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Late game drama saw Wake Forest and Notre Dame exchange goals in the final 11 minutes of action.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The No. 3 ranked Wake Forest men's soccer team (11-1-4, 4-1-2 ACC) and No. 6 Notre Dame (10-1-4, 5-0-2) engaged in a highly entertaining top-10 showdown on Friday night at Spry Stadium, as more than 2,200 fans witnessed a 1-1 draw between the ACC's Atlantic and Coastal Division leaders.
After going into the halftime break scoreless, Wake Forest broke the match's scoring open in the 79th minute as Leo Guarino beat Notre Dame goalkeeper Bryan Dowd for the first goal the Fighting Irish had conceded in 493 consecutive minutes of action.
Notre Dame, however, responded just six minutes later off a header from a free kick outside of the Deacs' 18-yard box. Wake Forest played the last five-plus minutes of the up a man after Notre Dame was assessed a red card following its goal celebration. In those remaining minutes, the Demon Deacons logged four shots but were unable to find a go-ahead goal.
Wake Forest held an 18-12 shot advantage through the 90 minutes, including a six to four edge in shots on-goal. Additionally, the Deacs earned seven corners on the night and conceded just three.
The Demon Deacons will enter the final week of the ACC regular season in first place of the Atlantic Division. With a victory over Louisville next Friday, Wake Forest would clinch its fifth division title in nine years and secure a top-two seed in the ACC Tournament.
Thank You Seniors
Prior to the start of Friday's match, the Demon Deacons honored the 2023 senior class of Cristian Escribano, Jahlane Forbes, Chase Oliver, Oscar Sears, Colin Thomas, Garrison Tubbs and Jake Swallen.
Together, this class has helped lead the Demon Deacons to 43 appearances in the national polls including being ranked No. 1 in the country six times. Over their four years in the Old Gold & Black, the Demon Deacons have a record of 51-17-8 including three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
The 51 wins are second-most nationally over the last four seasons as Wake Forest is one of just three programs with 50 or more wins since the 2020 season opener.
Swallen – who returned for his sixth season in 2023 – was also a member of Wake Forest's 2019 College Cup squad.
Undefeated Regular Season At Spry
With the Deacs on the road to conclude the 2023 regular season, Wake Forest wrapped up its regular season home slate with a 8-0-3 record at Spry Stadium.
In those 11 matches, the Demon Deacons recorded two ACC victories (Clemson and No. 14 North Carolina), two draws against top-10 ACC foes (No. 7 Syracuse and No. 6 Notre Dame) and a 5-1 win over Southern Conference leaders Furman. The Deacs also outscored those opponents a combined 27-7 and earned five clean sheets.
Wake Forest 3, Grand Canyon 1 (Aug. 24)
Wake Forest 1, Cal 1 (Aug. 27)
Wake Forest 5, Furman 1 (Sept. 4)
Wake Forest 4, Gardner-Webb 0 (Sept. 12)
Wake Forest 1, No. 7 Syracuse 1 (Sept. 16)
Wake Forest 3, Liberty 1 (Sept. 19)
Wake Forest 1, Clemson 0 (Sept. 22)
Wake Forest 2, Wofford 0 (Oct. 10)
Wake Forest 1, No. 14 North Carolina 0 (Oct. 14)
Wake Forest 5, Robert Morris 1 (Oct. 17)
Wake Forest 1, No. 6 Notre Dame 1 (Oct. 20)
Deacs Check In At No. 7 In First Top-16 Unveil
At halftime of Friday night's top-10 class, the NCAA revealed the first in-season top-16 for NCAA Tournament seeding with Wake Forest checking in with the No. 7 seed.
The 2023 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship will feature a 48-team field with the top 16 teams earning a first round bye. Play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament will take place on Thursday, Nov. 16 with second round action continuing on Sunday, Nov. 19.
The NCAA Selection Show is set to take place on Monday, Nov. 13.
How It Happened
"This is a tough one to swallow. We conceded with just a little bit over five minutes left when I thought we had the run of play in the second half. We're just disappointed. We're disappointed for what could have been accomplished against a really good Notre Dame team. We were the first team to score on them in the second half. We just have to find our way back now, but I'm proud of the overall performance of the group. If you take out a couple of moments, I'm proud of the group all in all. We'll take the point. I think maybe there were three points in the game for us and instead of getting a point I think we dropped two tonight, but I'm still proud of the performance."
Up Next
Wake Forest will conclude the 2023 regular season next Friday when the Demon Deacons face Louisville at the Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Family Stadium.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
After going into the halftime break scoreless, Wake Forest broke the match's scoring open in the 79th minute as Leo Guarino beat Notre Dame goalkeeper Bryan Dowd for the first goal the Fighting Irish had conceded in 493 consecutive minutes of action.
Notre Dame, however, responded just six minutes later off a header from a free kick outside of the Deacs' 18-yard box. Wake Forest played the last five-plus minutes of the up a man after Notre Dame was assessed a red card following its goal celebration. In those remaining minutes, the Demon Deacons logged four shots but were unable to find a go-ahead goal.
Wake Forest held an 18-12 shot advantage through the 90 minutes, including a six to four edge in shots on-goal. Additionally, the Deacs earned seven corners on the night and conceded just three.
The Demon Deacons will enter the final week of the ACC regular season in first place of the Atlantic Division. With a victory over Louisville next Friday, Wake Forest would clinch its fifth division title in nine years and secure a top-two seed in the ACC Tournament.
Thank You Seniors
Prior to the start of Friday's match, the Demon Deacons honored the 2023 senior class of Cristian Escribano, Jahlane Forbes, Chase Oliver, Oscar Sears, Colin Thomas, Garrison Tubbs and Jake Swallen.
Together, this class has helped lead the Demon Deacons to 43 appearances in the national polls including being ranked No. 1 in the country six times. Over their four years in the Old Gold & Black, the Demon Deacons have a record of 51-17-8 including three-straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
The 51 wins are second-most nationally over the last four seasons as Wake Forest is one of just three programs with 50 or more wins since the 2020 season opener.
Swallen – who returned for his sixth season in 2023 – was also a member of Wake Forest's 2019 College Cup squad.
Undefeated Regular Season At Spry
With the Deacs on the road to conclude the 2023 regular season, Wake Forest wrapped up its regular season home slate with a 8-0-3 record at Spry Stadium.
In those 11 matches, the Demon Deacons recorded two ACC victories (Clemson and No. 14 North Carolina), two draws against top-10 ACC foes (No. 7 Syracuse and No. 6 Notre Dame) and a 5-1 win over Southern Conference leaders Furman. The Deacs also outscored those opponents a combined 27-7 and earned five clean sheets.
Wake Forest 3, Grand Canyon 1 (Aug. 24)
Wake Forest 1, Cal 1 (Aug. 27)
Wake Forest 5, Furman 1 (Sept. 4)
Wake Forest 4, Gardner-Webb 0 (Sept. 12)
Wake Forest 1, No. 7 Syracuse 1 (Sept. 16)
Wake Forest 3, Liberty 1 (Sept. 19)
Wake Forest 1, Clemson 0 (Sept. 22)
Wake Forest 2, Wofford 0 (Oct. 10)
Wake Forest 1, No. 14 North Carolina 0 (Oct. 14)
Wake Forest 5, Robert Morris 1 (Oct. 17)
Wake Forest 1, No. 6 Notre Dame 1 (Oct. 20)
Deacs Check In At No. 7 In First Top-16 Unveil
At halftime of Friday night's top-10 class, the NCAA revealed the first in-season top-16 for NCAA Tournament seeding with Wake Forest checking in with the No. 7 seed.
The 2023 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship will feature a 48-team field with the top 16 teams earning a first round bye. Play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament will take place on Thursday, Nov. 16 with second round action continuing on Sunday, Nov. 19.
The NCAA Selection Show is set to take place on Monday, Nov. 13.
How It Happened
- Jake Swallen recorded the first Wake Forest shot of the night in the sixth minute, but his free kick from distance was saved by Notre Dame's Bryan Dowd.
- Swallen also collected the Deacs' second attempt in the 14th minute, but a low-level shot went wide of the Fighting Irish's frame.
- Roald Mitchell logged an attempt in the 16th minute that was saved by Dowd.
- Trace Alphin picked up his first save of the night in the 19th minute, swatting away an attempt from Notre Dame's KK Baffour. Alphin's second save of the night came in the 36th minute, as Notre Dame's shot went right to the junior keeper.
- Wake Forest finished the first half with 53 percent of the possession while Notre Dame had an advantage in shots, nine to eight.
- The Deacs' best chance in the opening minutes of the second half came in the 55th minute, as Jahlane Forbes swung in a cross from the left flank before Cooper Flax's chance was blocked.
- In the 62nd minute, Mitchell came within inches of scoring his third goal in as many matches, but a hit off his inside foot hit the crossbar.
- Eleven minutes after he came on, Guarino pushed the Demon Deacons in front in the 79th minute as the junior received a pass from Niang before firing it into the top-right corner from the edge of the box.
- The goal marked the 10th of Guarino's career and fourth of his 2023 campaign.
- Forbes recorded the secondary assist on the goal, moving his career total to 19, which ranks tied for 19th in program history alongside Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famers Sam Cronin and Neil Covone along with Jeremiah White, Ben Stafford and former teammate Isaiah Parente.
- Notre Dame equalized six minutes later with a headed goal from Daniel Russo on the end of a free kick.
- Russo was assessed a second yellow card proceding the goal, as the Deacs played the remaining five-plus minutes with a man advantage.
- Niang came close to a winner in the 86th minute, but the shot was blocked behind for a Wake Forest corner.
- In the 88th minute, Niang fired another shot which sailed just high for a goal kick.
- Amponsah and Walent attempted shots in the 89th and 90th minutes, respectively, with the latter being parried behind for a corner.
- Swallen's corner kick in the dying seconds of the match was unable to find the head of a Wake Forest player, as the two teams split the points.
- Sidney Paris made his 55th career appearance.
- Jeffrey White made his 15th career appearance.
- With the result, Wake Forest's lead in the all-time series with Notre Dame is now 7-5-3 and 4-3-1 in Winston-Salem.
- It also marks the first draw between the two sides since a 2-2 decision on Oct. 8, 2016.
- This was the first meeting between the two programs at Spry Stadium since Oct. 26, 2019.
"This is a tough one to swallow. We conceded with just a little bit over five minutes left when I thought we had the run of play in the second half. We're just disappointed. We're disappointed for what could have been accomplished against a really good Notre Dame team. We were the first team to score on them in the second half. We just have to find our way back now, but I'm proud of the overall performance of the group. If you take out a couple of moments, I'm proud of the group all in all. We'll take the point. I think maybe there were three points in the game for us and instead of getting a point I think we dropped two tonight, but I'm still proud of the performance."
Up Next
Wake Forest will conclude the 2023 regular season next Friday when the Demon Deacons face Louisville at the Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Family Stadium.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Team Stats
UND
WFU
Goals
1
1
Shots
12
18
Shots on Goal
4
6
Saves
5
3
Corners
3
7
Fouls
7
18
Scoring Plays
Leo Guarino (4)
Assisted By: Babacar Niang , Jahlane Forbes
GOAL by WFU Guarino, Leo Assist by Niang, Babacar and Forbes, Jahlane.
78:06
Daniel Russo (3)
Assisted By: Ethan O'Brien
GOAL by UND Russo, Daniel Assist by O'Brien, Ethan.
84:10
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's SoccerMidfielder
/ Men's SoccerForward
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's SoccerMidfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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