Sunday, August 25
Winston-Salem, N.C.
7 p.m.
Wake Forest University
1-1-0, 0-0-0
3
vs
2
Central Arkansas
1-1-0, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Central Ark.
2
0
2
Wake Forest
0
3
3
No. 15 Wake Forest Overcomes Two-Goal Halftime Deficit in 3-2 Victory Over Central Arkansas
8/25/2024 9:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Fueled by three second half goals in a six-minute span, Wake Forest would secure a 3-2 win over Central Arkansas.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Despite trailing 2-0 heading into the second half, the No. 15 ranked Wake Forest's men's soccer team stormed back to a 3-2 victory over Central Arkansas on Sunday night at Spry Stadium. It marked the first time Wake Forest has overcome a 2-0 deficit since storming back for a 3-2 double overtime victory over Ohio State on Sept. 3, 2006.
Central Arkansas entered the halftime break with a 2-0 lead, collecting goals in the 19th and 21st minutes respectively. Wake Forest, however, responded with three goals in a six-minute span starting in the 67th minute.
First, senior Babacar Niang buried a touch from Pariss Mitchell to pull the Deacs back within one in the 67th minute. Just two minutes later, after the Bears were called for handball inside the box, junior Cooper Flax stepped up to finish a penalty kick to level the score at 2-2. Then, the combination of Mitchell and Niang struck again in the 73rd minute to put Wake Forest up for good, 3-2.
The Demon Deacons will now turn their attention to No. 19 UCF, who Wake Forest will face for the first time in Orlando.
The match is set to take place next Saturday at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Spry Homefield Advantage
With Sunday night's win, Wake Forest sports an impressive 17-1-1 record against non-conference opponents in regular season action dating back to a 4-0 victory over William & Mary on Oct. 5, 2021.
During this 19-match stretch, the Demon Deacons and have outscored opponents by a +47 margin:
Additionally, the win marked the Deacs' 103rd at home since the start of the 2015 season. Over the last decade, Wake Forest is the only program nationally with more than 100 victories followed by Indiana at 86 and Clemson at 83.
How It Happened
Demon Deacon Details of Note
From Coach Muuss
"I thought we created some really good chances in the first half. I thought the keeper stood on his head. We leaked a couple of goals, and that's not being disrespectful to Central Arkansas. We leaked a couple of goals and gave them some belief, but I'm proud of the guys. They showed a lot of resiliency, stuck to the gameplan and continued to work hard. Sometimes when you're missing some chances, the heads can go down, but we just kept going. I think we scored three goals in six minutes. 'We just need one,' we said to the guys. When we got that, I felt pretty good that we were going to come back and win the game."
Up Next
Wake Forest will turn its attention to a clash with UCF next Saturday in Orlando. The Knights were ranked No. 1 in the country last season and began the 2024 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Mercer before a 1-1 draw with No. 23 Seattle.
Kick-off for the match is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Central Arkansas entered the halftime break with a 2-0 lead, collecting goals in the 19th and 21st minutes respectively. Wake Forest, however, responded with three goals in a six-minute span starting in the 67th minute.
First, senior Babacar Niang buried a touch from Pariss Mitchell to pull the Deacs back within one in the 67th minute. Just two minutes later, after the Bears were called for handball inside the box, junior Cooper Flax stepped up to finish a penalty kick to level the score at 2-2. Then, the combination of Mitchell and Niang struck again in the 73rd minute to put Wake Forest up for good, 3-2.
The Demon Deacons will now turn their attention to No. 19 UCF, who Wake Forest will face for the first time in Orlando.
The match is set to take place next Saturday at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Spry Homefield Advantage
With Sunday night's win, Wake Forest sports an impressive 17-1-1 record against non-conference opponents in regular season action dating back to a 4-0 victory over William & Mary on Oct. 5, 2021.
During this 19-match stretch, the Demon Deacons and have outscored opponents by a +47 margin:
- Wake Forest 3, Central Arkansas 2 (Aug. 25, 2024)
- Wake Forest 1, VCU 2 (Aug. 22, 2024)
- Wake Forest 5, Robert Morris 1 (Oct. 17, 2023)
- Wake Forest 2, Wofford 0 (Oct. 10, 2023)
- Wake Forest 3, Liberty 1 (Sept. 19, 2023)
- Wake Forest 4, Gardner-Webb 0 (Sept. 12, 2023)
- Wake Forest 5, Furman 1 (Sept. 4, 2023)
- Wake Forest 1, Cal 1 (Aug. 27, 2023)
- Wake Forest 3, Grand Canyon 1 (Aug. 24, 2023)
- Wake Forest 3, Wofford 0 (Oct. 18, 2022)
- Wake Forest 1, Jacksonville 0 (Oct. 4, 2022)
- Wake Forest 6, George Mason 1 (Sept. 20, 2022)
- Wake Forest 3, FDU 2 (Sept. 13, 2022)
- Wake Forest 5, Winthrop 1 (Sept. 6, 2024)
- Wake Forest 2, Air Force 1 (Aug. 28, 2024)
- Wake Forest 1, UCF 0 (Aug. 25, 2022)
- Wake Forest 7, Loyola University Maryland 0 (Oct. 19, 2021)
- Wake Forest 3, George Washington 0 (Oct. 12, 2021)
- Wake Forest 4, William & Mary 0 (Oct. 5, 2021)
Additionally, the win marked the Deacs' 103rd at home since the start of the 2015 season. Over the last decade, Wake Forest is the only program nationally with more than 100 victories followed by Indiana at 86 and Clemson at 83.
How It Happened
- Wake Forest collected the first shot of the contest in the third minute following a corner kick, but Bo Cummins' attempt inside the 18 was blocked.
- The Deacon backline held strong early, not conceding a shot until the 15th minute that was wide of the frame.
- The Deacs recorded a trio of shot attempts in the 15th minute as well, but two were saved and a third was blocked.
- Central Arkansas would take a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute off a free kick from outside the 18. The Bears would then double their lead in the 21st minute.
- Wake Forest finished the opening 45 minutes of the contest with a 12-6 advantage in shots and 66 percent of the possession.
- Out of the halftime break, the Demon Deacons fired off seven shots in the first 15 minutes as they looked to get back into the contest.
- The Deacs would pull one back in the 67th minute, as Babacar Niang's give-and-go with Pariss Mitchell created space for the senior to bag his first goal of the season and the eighth of his career.
- Then just two minutes later, following a handball on the Bears, Cooper Flax stepped up to the spot to perfectly finish a penalty kick to level the game 2-2.
- Wake Forest would then take its first lead of the match in the 73rd minute, as Niang and Mitchell teamed up once again to give Wake Forest a 3-2 lead.
- It marked the first multi-goal game of Niang's Wake Forest career as Mitchell became the first Deac to record multiple assists in a match since Jahlane Forbes against NC State on Oct. 6, 2023.
- The Deacs had several more chances to double the lead over the final 15 minutes of the contest, with seven shots during that span.
- Wake Forest finished the contest with advantages in shots (34-12), shots on goal (17-4) and possession (64-36 percent).
Demon Deacon Details of Note
- Senior Ryan Fessler earned his first start since Nov. 17, 2022. He served as a team captain for the match alongside graduate Prince Amponsah.
- Freshman Will Jackson earned his first career start, becoming the second first-year Deac to be named to the starting XI, joining Dylan Borso who started in his collegiate debut against VCU.
- Senior Babacar Niang made his 40th career appearance.
- Senior Nicolas Mancilla made his season debut, entering the contest in the 25th minute.
- Freshman Mason Sullivan made his collegiate debut, entering the contest in the 87th minute.
- With the victory, senior Trace Alphin earned his 35th career victory as a starting goalkeeper for the Deacs.
From Coach Muuss
"I thought we created some really good chances in the first half. I thought the keeper stood on his head. We leaked a couple of goals, and that's not being disrespectful to Central Arkansas. We leaked a couple of goals and gave them some belief, but I'm proud of the guys. They showed a lot of resiliency, stuck to the gameplan and continued to work hard. Sometimes when you're missing some chances, the heads can go down, but we just kept going. I think we scored three goals in six minutes. 'We just need one,' we said to the guys. When we got that, I felt pretty good that we were going to come back and win the game."
Up Next
Wake Forest will turn its attention to a clash with UCF next Saturday in Orlando. The Knights were ranked No. 1 in the country last season and began the 2024 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Mercer before a 1-1 draw with No. 23 Seattle.
Kick-off for the match is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Team Stats
UCA
WFU
Goals
2
3
Shots
12
34
Shots on Goal
4
17
Saves
14
2
Corners
2
10
Fouls
12
8
Scoring Plays
Kevin Ventura (1)
Assisted By: Devonte Richards , Andres Robles
GOAL by UCA Ventura, Kevin Assist by Richards, Devonte and Robles, Andres.
18:25
Charles Brunet (1)
Assisted By: Sohma Ichikawa
GOAL by UCA Brunet, Charles Assist by Ichikawa, Sohma.
20:23
Babacar Niang (2)
Assisted By: Pariss Mitchell
GOAL by WFU Niang, Babacar Assist by Mitchell, Pariss.
66:08
Cooper Flax
WFU Cooper Flax PENALTY KICK GOAL.
68:29
Babacar Niang (2)
Assisted By: Pariss Mitchell
GOAL by WFU Niang, Babacar Assist by Mitchell, Pariss.
72:16
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
5
SOG
3
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
7
SOG
4
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
5
SOG
4
Goals
0
Assists
2
Shots
6
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's SoccerForward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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Defender
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