Sunday, November 24
Winston-Salem, N.C.
6 p.m.
Wake Forest University
11-4-7, 4-2-2
2
vs
1
Maryland
9-6-5, 5-3-2
1
2
F
Maryland
1
0
1
Wake Forest
1
1
2
Wake Forest Defeats Maryland 2-1 to Advance to the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament
11/24/2024 9:03:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Junior Cooper Flax’s 63rd minute goal propelled the Demon Deacons to victory as they will face off against Clemson for the second time in their last three games.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Behind a 63rd-minute winner from junior midfielder Cooper Flax, the Wake Forest men's soccer team (11-4-7) earned a 2-1 victory over Maryland (9-6-5) at Spry Stadium Sunday night. With the win, the Demon Deacons advanced to the round of 16 for the 16th time in program history.
The Deacs opened the scoring in the 12th minute, as freshman midfielder Dylan Borso drove into the box from the left and fired a shot past the Maryland keeper for his third goal of the season. Of note, it marked the earliest goal of the season for Wake Forest. Prince Amponsah logged his second assist of the season and eighth of his career on the goal.
Maryland equalized right before halftime against the run of play, but Flax put the Deacs back in front in the 63rd minute. The goal came following a beautiful assist from freshman Joel Torbic that made its way through multiple defenders and set Flax up for a one-on-one finish.
The winner was Flax's team-best ninth goal of the season, while Torbic's assist was the first of his career.
Overall, Wake Forest out-shot Maryland 17-to-13 across the 90 minutes.
Round of 16 Bound
For the eighth time in 10 seasons under head coach Bobby Muuss and the 16th time overall in program history, Wake Forest has advanced to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship.
Wake Forest's eight Round of 16 appearances since 2015 are second-most in the country, trailing only Indiana's 10 consecutive trips.
Years Advancing to the Round of 16 (2024, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002)
Home Win No. 110 Since 2015
With Sunday's victory over Maryland, Wake Forest has extended its nationally-best mark for home victories over the last decade to 110.
The Demon Deacons outpace the country in home victories over the last 10 seasons, trailed by Indiana (92) and Clemson (91).
Additionally, Wake Forest's home winning percentage over the last decade of 82.2 percent ranks third nationally, trailing only Indiana (83.7 percent) and Denver (83.1 percent).
How It Happened
"I'm happy that we advanced. I thought for the first 20 minutes we were good. We were really imposing our game, and it slipped away a little bit. Hats off to Maryland; the momentum changed. I told the guys at halftime that I didn't think the guys that came on really brought the energy that was expected of them. I thought we started the second half pretty well, and then it was just back and forth. Right at that point, it was back forth and anyone's game. There were a couple of chances that you'd like to finish. Jeffrey gets in, Dylan gets in and it goes just wide. Gutsy performance with the big-time ball from freshman Joel Torbic to find Cooper right in behind. Oh my goodness. That is football at its finest right there. It doesn't get much better than that. Then, the guys grinded and we needed everyone. We had guys get injured. We had guys cramp up. It was a complete team win. I'm proud of the guys."
Up Next
Wake Forest will remain at Spry Stadium next weekend, hosting a Round of 16 match against Clemson on Sunday for a 6 p.m. start.
The Deacs opened the scoring in the 12th minute, as freshman midfielder Dylan Borso drove into the box from the left and fired a shot past the Maryland keeper for his third goal of the season. Of note, it marked the earliest goal of the season for Wake Forest. Prince Amponsah logged his second assist of the season and eighth of his career on the goal.
Maryland equalized right before halftime against the run of play, but Flax put the Deacs back in front in the 63rd minute. The goal came following a beautiful assist from freshman Joel Torbic that made its way through multiple defenders and set Flax up for a one-on-one finish.
The winner was Flax's team-best ninth goal of the season, while Torbic's assist was the first of his career.
Overall, Wake Forest out-shot Maryland 17-to-13 across the 90 minutes.
Round of 16 Bound
For the eighth time in 10 seasons under head coach Bobby Muuss and the 16th time overall in program history, Wake Forest has advanced to the Round of 16 of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship.
Wake Forest's eight Round of 16 appearances since 2015 are second-most in the country, trailing only Indiana's 10 consecutive trips.
Years Advancing to the Round of 16 (2024, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002)
Home Win No. 110 Since 2015
With Sunday's victory over Maryland, Wake Forest has extended its nationally-best mark for home victories over the last decade to 110.
The Demon Deacons outpace the country in home victories over the last 10 seasons, trailed by Indiana (92) and Clemson (91).
Additionally, Wake Forest's home winning percentage over the last decade of 82.2 percent ranks third nationally, trailing only Indiana (83.7 percent) and Denver (83.1 percent).
How It Happened
- The Demon Deacons registered the first shot of the evening in the 11th minute, as Amoni Thomas' shot was saved by the Maryland keeper.
- Wake Forest took the early lead less than a minute later courtesy of Dylan Borso, when the freshman cut inside from the left and rocketed a shot past the keeper for his third goal of the season.
- The 12th-minute strike was the earliest of the season for the Deacs.
- Prince Amponsah logged his second assist of the season and eighth of his career.
- Borso had another attempt blocked in the 14th minute.
- Maryland called Alphin into action for the first time in the 16th minute, as the senior keeper adjusted well to a deflected shot and kept the Terrapins out.
- The Deacs had three shots in quick succession from Kennedy, Umar and Amoni Thomas in the 19th minute, but neither attempt was on target.
- Two minutes later, Perez forced the Maryland keeper into his second save of the night.
- Wake Forest had seven of the first eight shots of the contest.
- Maryland equalized four minutes before halftime.
- The two sides went into the break level at 1-1.
- Wake Forest outshot the visitors 9-to-5 over the first 45 minutes and controlled 56 percent of the ball.
- Sophomore Jeffrey White nearly got his first of the season in the 56th minute following a quick throw-in that caught Maryland on the backfoot.
- Flax put the Deacs back in front with his team-best ninth goal of the season after a phenomenal ball through traffic from Torbic found him in the box.
- Flax now has 12 goals for his career in addition to 10 assists for 34 career points.
- Torbic logged his first-career assist.
- A minute after Alphin was forced into his second save of the night, Kennedy had his attempt blocked on the other end in the 78th minute.
- Maryland had four more shots over the next five minutes, but neither were on target.
- The Demon Deacons sealed the 2-1 victory and advanced to the round of 16.
- Graduate Prince Amponsah earned his 82nd career start, tied for seventh-most in program history alongside 2016 MAC Hermann Trophy winner Ian Harkes (2013-16) and Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famer Neil Covone (1987-90).
- Amponsah also made his 90th career appearance, eighth-most in program history.
- Senior Trace Alphin earned his 76th career start, tied for 20th-most in program history with Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famer Jose Miguel Grave de Peralta Jr. (1980-83), Jeff McNeill (1980-83) and Justin Moose (2002-05).
- Graduate Colin Thomas made his 81st career appearance, tied for 19th-most in program history alongside Jacori Hayes (2013-16), Luca Gimenez (2010-13), Steve Curfman (2001-04), Craig Conger (1988-91) and Jeff McNeill (1980-83).
- Junior Basit Umar made his 20th appearance of the season and his 14th consecutive start.
- With the victory, Wake Forest is now 19-15-6 all-time against Maryland with 12 of those wins coming in Winston-Salem.
- Wake Forest is currently on a six-match unbeaten streak in the series with the Terrapins dating back to a 1-1 draw on Nov. 3, 2011.
- The Demon Deacons are 2-0-0 all-time against the Terrapins in the NCAA Tournament, as Wake Forest also defeated Maryland 3-0 in the second round in 2019.
- Wake Forest's record in NCAA Tournament matches played in Winston-Salem is now 31-13-2.
"I'm happy that we advanced. I thought for the first 20 minutes we were good. We were really imposing our game, and it slipped away a little bit. Hats off to Maryland; the momentum changed. I told the guys at halftime that I didn't think the guys that came on really brought the energy that was expected of them. I thought we started the second half pretty well, and then it was just back and forth. Right at that point, it was back forth and anyone's game. There were a couple of chances that you'd like to finish. Jeffrey gets in, Dylan gets in and it goes just wide. Gutsy performance with the big-time ball from freshman Joel Torbic to find Cooper right in behind. Oh my goodness. That is football at its finest right there. It doesn't get much better than that. Then, the guys grinded and we needed everyone. We had guys get injured. We had guys cramp up. It was a complete team win. I'm proud of the guys."
Up Next
Wake Forest will remain at Spry Stadium next weekend, hosting a Round of 16 match against Clemson on Sunday for a 6 p.m. start.
Team Stats
UMD
WFU
Goals
1
2
Shots
13
17
Shots on Goal
3
5
Saves
3
2
Corners
5
3
Fouls
12
12
Scoring Plays
Dylan Borso (3)
Assisted By: Prince Amponsah
GOAL by WFU Borso, Dylan Assist by Amponsah, Prince.
11:09
Max Rogers (4)
Assisted By: Luca Costabile , Matias de Jesus
GOAL by UMD Rogers, Max Assist by Costabile, Luca and de Jesus, Matias.
41:55
Cooper Flax (9)
Assisted By: Joel Torbic
GOAL by WFU Flax, Cooper Assist by Torbic, Joel.
62:39
Game Leaders
mid
Shots
4
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
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
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's SoccerMidfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's SoccerMidfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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