Saturday, October 19
Winston-Salem, N.C.
7 p.m.
Wake Forest University
7-3-5, 3-1-2
2
vs
1
Virginia Tech
7-5-2, 1-4-1
1
2
F
Virginia Tech
0
1
1
Wake Forest
1
1
2
Wake Forest Men’s Soccer Pushes Unbeaten Streak To Seven-Straight with 2-1 Victory over Virginia Tech
10/19/2024 9:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Demon Deacons secured their third ACC victory of the season against a talented Virginia Tech side.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest men's soccer team 7-3-5 (3-1-2 ACC) picked up its third ACC win of the season on Saturday night, defeating Virginia Tech 7-4-2 (1-4-1 ACC) 2-1 at Spry Stadium.
With the result, Wake Forest has extended its season-best unbeaten streak to seven-straight matches dating back to a 2-1 victory over Syracuse on Sept. 27.
The Demon Deacons took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break, as sophomore Jose Perez notched his second goal of the season off an excellent free kick attempt outside of the 18. Despite the Wake Forest lead, Virginia Tech responded with a goal less than two minutes into the second half.
Still, the Deacs searched for an answer and found it in the form of a 73rd-minute goal from junior Cooper Flax. On the goal, freshman Amoni Thomas lofted a ball into the box to find Flax alone with just the Hokie keeper to beat.
In goal, senior goalkeeper Trace Alphin helped close out the result as he finished the evening with four saves, which moved him into the top-10 in career saves for the Demon Deacons.
The night served as the program's annual Genna Wiley Memorial Match, as the Deacs wore special pink jerseys with all proceeds raised benefiting the Cancer Health Equity Patient Care fund at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
Bidding is open through the end of the day Saturday.
ACC Win No. 55 Since '15
Now with three conference wins on the season against Syracuse, Boston College and Virginia Tech, Wake Forest has now won an ACC-best 55 regular season matches since the start of the 2015 season.
During that span, the Deacs' 55 wins are 10 more than any ACC program.
Stout At Spry
Including Saturday night's victory over Virginia Tech, Wake Forest holds the longest active home unbeaten streak against ACC opponents in regular season play at nine matches followed by Notre Dame's three-match streak.
Dating back to a 3-1 victory over Boston College on Oct. 15, 2022, Wake Forest is 5-0-3 and has outscored opponents +10:
Seven-Straight Unbeaten
With the victory against Virginia Tech, Wake Forest's current unbeaten streak has reached a season-high seven matches. During this run, Wake Forest is 5-0-2 and has outscored opponents 12-4.
The Deacs' seven-match unbeaten streak is the longest in the ACC.
Alphin Cracks Top-10 In Career Saves
With 4 saves on against the Hokies, senior goalkeeper Trace Alphin now ranks 10th in program history in career saves, joining a list that includes the likes of Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famers Jose Miguel Grave de Peralta Jr. and Will Hesmer along with 2007 NCAA National Champions Brian Edwards and Akira Fitzgerald.
Wake Forest Career Save Leaders
How It Happened
Demon Deacon Details of Note
From Coach Muuss
"I thought it was a pretty good performance against a really good team. Virginia Tech is a really good attacking team and their big guys are dangerous on setpieces, and obviously we defended a lot of corners tonight. I'm proud of the guys. We scored a great goal in the first half on a restart, and then we conceded a pretty bad goal at the beginning of the second half on a set piece. Unfortunate, but they had resiliency and they kept battling. They came back. I thought we missed a couple of really good chances that were going to come back and bite us. But what a great goal at the end from a freshman to a leader in Cooper Flax to get the game winner, and then the guys fought to the end. So, overall, it was a great win in front of a great crowd here on fall break. I have to give a shout out to the Winston-Salem soccer community. It was unbelievable tonight."
Up Next
Wake Forest will compete in its final road regular season ACC match on Friday evening, facing No. 10 SMU in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the match will air nationally on the ACC Network.
With the result, Wake Forest has extended its season-best unbeaten streak to seven-straight matches dating back to a 2-1 victory over Syracuse on Sept. 27.
The Demon Deacons took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break, as sophomore Jose Perez notched his second goal of the season off an excellent free kick attempt outside of the 18. Despite the Wake Forest lead, Virginia Tech responded with a goal less than two minutes into the second half.
Still, the Deacs searched for an answer and found it in the form of a 73rd-minute goal from junior Cooper Flax. On the goal, freshman Amoni Thomas lofted a ball into the box to find Flax alone with just the Hokie keeper to beat.
In goal, senior goalkeeper Trace Alphin helped close out the result as he finished the evening with four saves, which moved him into the top-10 in career saves for the Demon Deacons.
The night served as the program's annual Genna Wiley Memorial Match, as the Deacs wore special pink jerseys with all proceeds raised benefiting the Cancer Health Equity Patient Care fund at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
Bidding is open through the end of the day Saturday.
ACC Win No. 55 Since '15
Now with three conference wins on the season against Syracuse, Boston College and Virginia Tech, Wake Forest has now won an ACC-best 55 regular season matches since the start of the 2015 season.
During that span, the Deacs' 55 wins are 10 more than any ACC program.
| School | ACC Regular Season Wins Since '15 |
|
55 |
|
45 |
|
44 |
|
38 |
|
36 |
Stout At Spry
Including Saturday night's victory over Virginia Tech, Wake Forest holds the longest active home unbeaten streak against ACC opponents in regular season play at nine matches followed by Notre Dame's three-match streak.
Dating back to a 3-1 victory over Boston College on Oct. 15, 2022, Wake Forest is 5-0-3 and has outscored opponents +10:
- Wake Forest 2, Virginia Tech 1 (Oct. 19, 2024)
- Wake Forest 2, Boston College 0 (Oct. 5, 2024)
- Wake Forest 1, Virginia 1 (Sept. 13, 2024)
- Wake Forest 1, No. 6 Notre Dame 1 (Oct. 20, 2023)
- Wake Forest 1, No. 14 North Carolina 0 (Oct. 14, 2023)
- Wake Forest 1, Clemson 0 (Sept. 22, 2023)
- Wake Forest 1, No. 7 Syracuse 1 (Sept. 16, 2023)
- Wake Forest 3, No. 9 Louisville 0 (Oct. 28, 2022)
- Wake Forest 3, Boston College 1 (Oct. 15, 2022)
Seven-Straight Unbeaten
With the victory against Virginia Tech, Wake Forest's current unbeaten streak has reached a season-high seven matches. During this run, Wake Forest is 5-0-2 and has outscored opponents 12-4.
The Deacs' seven-match unbeaten streak is the longest in the ACC.
Alphin Cracks Top-10 In Career Saves
With 4 saves on against the Hokies, senior goalkeeper Trace Alphin now ranks 10th in program history in career saves, joining a list that includes the likes of Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famers Jose Miguel Grave de Peralta Jr. and Will Hesmer along with 2007 NCAA National Champions Brian Edwards and Akira Fitzgerald.
Wake Forest Career Save Leaders
|
620 saves |
|
278 saves |
|
255 saves |
|
237 saves |
|
230 saves |
|
228 saves |
|
208 saves |
|
201 saves |
|
191 saves |
|
162 saves |
How It Happened
- Wake Forest put itself in position for a potential second-minute goal, as junior Basit Umar penetrated the middle of the Hokie defense before sending sophomore Jeffrey White forward for a shot that would go wide.
- Senior Trace Alphin was called into action in the eighth minute, stopping a Virginia Tech transition.
- The Deacs recorded a pair of 20th-minute shots, the first one attempted by senior Coloin Thomas that was saved.
- After freshman Dylan Borso was taken down outside of the 18-yard box, Wake Forest would take a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute as sophomore Jose Perez hit an absolute beauty on the free kick.
- The goal was the second of the season for Perez, as he also notched a score on a free kick against VCU in the opener.
- Despite Alphin making an acrobatic save on Virginia Tech's first save out of the break, the Hokies leveled the match at 1-1 in the 48th minute.
- Senior Julian Kennedy logged the first shot attempt for Wake Forest in the second half, a ground-level attempt that went wide.
- The Orlando native had another opportunity at his first goal of the season in the 60th, but the attempt once again went to the side of the frame.
- Umar and White once again connected on a near Wake Forest goal, as the junior's cross found the sophomore's foot before his attempt was stopped.
- In the 73rd minute, freshman Amoni Thomas played a beautiful pass over the top of a Hokie defender to junior Cooper Flax, who chipped it over the keeper to restore the Deacons advantage at 2-1.
- The Hokies put the Deacs under pressure immediately after Flax's goal, as Alphin was forced to make a diving save to his left in the 89th minute, helping to seal the Deacs 2-1 victory.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
- Graduate Prince Amponsah earned his 76th career start, tied for the 19th-most in program history with Justin Moose (2002-05), Jeff McNeill (1980-83) and Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famer Jose Miguel Grave de Peralta Jr. (1980-83).
- Amponsah also made his 84th career appearance, tied for the 11th-most in program history with 2007 National Champion Julian Valentin (2004-07) and Gregg Goldsmith (1980-83).
- Senior Trace Alpin made his 50th consecutive start dating back to a 2-1 victory over North Carolina on Oct. 8, 2021. This also marked his 70th career appearance.
- Junior Basit Umar earned his 30th career start.
- Senior Bo Cummins made his 55th career appearance.
- With the victory, Wake Forest now leads the all-time series against Virginia Tech at 25-3-2 and have won seven of the last eight matchups between the programs.
- Wake Forest is now 15-1-0 against Virginia Tech in Winston-Salem as Wake Forest is unbeaten at home against the Hokies dating back to a 3-2 overtime victory on Oct. 17, 1985.
From Coach Muuss
"I thought it was a pretty good performance against a really good team. Virginia Tech is a really good attacking team and their big guys are dangerous on setpieces, and obviously we defended a lot of corners tonight. I'm proud of the guys. We scored a great goal in the first half on a restart, and then we conceded a pretty bad goal at the beginning of the second half on a set piece. Unfortunate, but they had resiliency and they kept battling. They came back. I thought we missed a couple of really good chances that were going to come back and bite us. But what a great goal at the end from a freshman to a leader in Cooper Flax to get the game winner, and then the guys fought to the end. So, overall, it was a great win in front of a great crowd here on fall break. I have to give a shout out to the Winston-Salem soccer community. It was unbelievable tonight."
Up Next
Wake Forest will compete in its final road regular season ACC match on Friday evening, facing No. 10 SMU in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Kick-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the match will air nationally on the ACC Network.
Team Stats
VT
WFU
Goals
1
2
Shots
18
15
Shots on Goal
5
4
Saves
2
4
Corners
10
2
Fouls
12
4
Scoring Plays
Jose Perez (2)
GOAL by WFU Perez, Jose.
41:47
Ethan Hackenberg (5)
Assisted By: Ian Marcano
GOAL by VT Hackenberg, Ethan Assist by Marcano, Ian.
47:50
Cooper Flax (4)
Assisted By: Amoni Thomas , Prince Amponsah
GOAL by WFU Flax, Cooper Assist by Thomas, Amoni and Amponsah, Prince.
72:59
Game Leaders
Shots
2
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
mid
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
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Defender
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Midfielder
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Defender
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Midfielder
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Forward
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Midfielder
/ Men's SoccerDefender
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Midfielder
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Midfielder
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