Sunday, November 5
Winston-Salem, N.C.
4:00 PM
Wake Forest University
11-2-5, 4-1-3
0
vs
1
North Carolina
9-3-5, 2-3-3
1
2
F
North Carolina
1
0
1
Wake Forest
0
0
0
Wake Forest Falls in ACC Tournament, Turns Attention to NCAA Tournament
11/5/2023 6:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Demon Deacons dominated possession over the Tar Heels but were unable to overcome an early goal from North Carolina.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- The Wake Forest men's soccer team (11-2-5) fell in the quarterfinals of the 2023 ACC Tournament on Sunday evening, as the No. 2 seed Demon Deacons lost to the No. 7 seed North Carolina Tar Heels (9-3-5) 1-0 at Spry Stadium.
Despite Wake Forest holding 62 percent of possession in the opening frame, it was North Carolina who went into the halftime break up 1-0 following a 16th-minute goal. The Deacs ultimately finished the match with an 11-to-5 shots advantage, including a 6-to-3 edge in shots on goal. Additionally, Wake Forest won eight corners and conceded just one to the Tar Heels.
Individually, Hosei Kijima, Garrison Tubbs and Jake Swallen led the team with two shots apiece while Trace Alphin recorded two saves.
The outcome snapped a 12-match unbeaten streak for the 2023 ACC Atlantic Division champions, dating back to a 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb on Sept. 12.
The Demon Deacons will now await their NCAA Tournament path, as the Selection Show will take place on Monday, Nov. 13 and be streamed on NCAA.com.
Wake Forest entered Sunday's action ranked No. 9 in RPI, as the Demon Deacons hold the ACC's longest active NCAA Tournament appearances streak at 12-straight years. That consecutive appearances streak is eight more years than any other ACC program and is the third-longest nationally behind only Indiana and Maryland.
How It Happened
"It's disappointing. I'm disappointed for a few reasons. I thought the performance was better and we deserved a better result, but at the same time I'm disappointed for the fans that showed up in abundance tonight. It was a great crowd. I'm disappointed that we weren't able to get them a goal or a victory. Our mistakes cost us again today. Our mistakes cost us against Louisville and we were able to battle back and get a draw, but mistakes cost us again here tonight. Early, they scored a great goal off a turnover and then we just couldn't find a way to break down Carolina's numbers deep. It was probably one of the most lopsided halves of football that I've been a part of in this conference, so I'm proud of the performance. Obviously, we want to eliminate a couple of the mistakes that we had to give up chances, but we have to learn from it. We have to get better. This gives us more time to prepare for the biggest season of all, and that's the NCAA Tournament. We can't lose sight of the ability of this group and the potential that they have."
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now await their destination in the NCAA Tournament, as the selection show is set to take place on Monday, Nov. 13 and be streamed on NCAA.com.
Wake Forest currently possesses the ACC's longest active NCAA Tournament appearance streak at 12-straight years and third nationally behind only Indiana and Maryland.
Despite Wake Forest holding 62 percent of possession in the opening frame, it was North Carolina who went into the halftime break up 1-0 following a 16th-minute goal. The Deacs ultimately finished the match with an 11-to-5 shots advantage, including a 6-to-3 edge in shots on goal. Additionally, Wake Forest won eight corners and conceded just one to the Tar Heels.
Individually, Hosei Kijima, Garrison Tubbs and Jake Swallen led the team with two shots apiece while Trace Alphin recorded two saves.
The outcome snapped a 12-match unbeaten streak for the 2023 ACC Atlantic Division champions, dating back to a 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb on Sept. 12.
The Demon Deacons will now await their NCAA Tournament path, as the Selection Show will take place on Monday, Nov. 13 and be streamed on NCAA.com.
Wake Forest entered Sunday's action ranked No. 9 in RPI, as the Demon Deacons hold the ACC's longest active NCAA Tournament appearances streak at 12-straight years. That consecutive appearances streak is eight more years than any other ACC program and is the third-longest nationally behind only Indiana and Maryland.
How It Happened
- Despite the Demon Deacons holding a majority of possession in the opening minutes, North Carolina took advantage of a Wake Forest miscue to take a 1-0 lead in the 16th minute.
- After a long forward pass to Roald Mitchell was stopped, the Demon Deacons earned a 31st minute corner kick where Garrison Tubbs' shot was blocked.
- Jake Swallen let out a long distance rip in the 38th minute that was saved.
- In the 40th minute, Camlio Ponce entered the match for the Deacs marking his first appearance since Oct. 17 against Robert Morris.
- A 45th-minute cross found the head of Chase Oliver, but the senior's attempt was saved.
- Wake Forest finished the first half with 62 percent of the possession along with advantages in shots (5-to-4) and corner kicks (3-to-1).
- Hosei Kijima recorded a shot 17 seconds into the second half that was saved.
- The Deacs nearly struck in the 58th minute, but a Jahlane Forbes corner that found the head of Tubbs went just wide of the frame.
- Just two minutes later, the Deacs found Mitchell on a through-ball in the middle of the North Carolina defense but the junior's shot was saved.
- After the Tar Heels were awarded a 69th-minute free kick, North Carolina took advantage to record a diving header that was saved by Trace Alphin.
- The Deacs yet again got an attempt on frame off of a corner kick, as Swallen's in-swinging attempt in the 85th minute found Leo Guarino but the Deacs were stopped from getting the equalizer.
- Wake Forest recorded six shots to North Carolina's one in the second half.
- Prince Amponsah earned his 60th career start.
- Cooper Flax earned his 25th career start.
- Oscar Sears made his 60th career appearance.
- Leo Guarino made his 50th career appearance.
- Bo Cummins made his 40th career appearance.
- Chase Oliver played a season-high 43 minutes.
- Sunday's loss snapped a 12-match unbeaten streak for the Demon Deacons dating back to a 4-0 victory over Gardner-Webb on Sept. 12.
- During that stretch, the Demon Deacons earned at least one point in their final seven ACC regular season matches and clinched the program's fifth ACC Atlantic Division title in nine seasons.
"It's disappointing. I'm disappointed for a few reasons. I thought the performance was better and we deserved a better result, but at the same time I'm disappointed for the fans that showed up in abundance tonight. It was a great crowd. I'm disappointed that we weren't able to get them a goal or a victory. Our mistakes cost us again today. Our mistakes cost us against Louisville and we were able to battle back and get a draw, but mistakes cost us again here tonight. Early, they scored a great goal off a turnover and then we just couldn't find a way to break down Carolina's numbers deep. It was probably one of the most lopsided halves of football that I've been a part of in this conference, so I'm proud of the performance. Obviously, we want to eliminate a couple of the mistakes that we had to give up chances, but we have to learn from it. We have to get better. This gives us more time to prepare for the biggest season of all, and that's the NCAA Tournament. We can't lose sight of the ability of this group and the potential that they have."
Up Next
The Demon Deacons will now await their destination in the NCAA Tournament, as the selection show is set to take place on Monday, Nov. 13 and be streamed on NCAA.com.
Wake Forest currently possesses the ACC's longest active NCAA Tournament appearance streak at 12-straight years and third nationally behind only Indiana and Maryland.
Team Stats
UNC
WFU
Goals
1
0
Shots
5
11
Shots on Goal
3
6
Saves
6
2
Corners
1
8
Fouls
12
11
Scoring Plays
Ahmad Al Qaq (3)
GOAL by UNC Al Qaq, Ahmad.
15:52
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's SoccerMidfielder
/ Men's SoccerForward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's SoccerMidfielder
/ Men's SoccerDefender
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