Wake Forest University
Virginia
Wake Forest Battles Back to Earn Point in ACC Opener
9/13/2024 9:51:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Demon Deacons did not allow a second half shot while scoring the equalizer in the 70th minute.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Despite conceding a goal in the sixth minute, the Wake Forest men's soccer team (2-2-2, 0-0-1 ACC) recorded a 1-1 draw with Virginia (2-2-2, 0-1-1 ACC) on Friday night at Spry Stadium, as junior Cooper Flax recorded the match-tying goal off a direct free kick in the 70th minute.
Throughout the second half, Wake Forest was heavily involved in the final third while not allowing Virginia to record a shot. Additionally, senior goalkeeper Trace Alphin recorded a 34th-minute penalty kick save while also scooping up a loose ball off a corner kick in the 43rd minute.
The Demon Deacons finished the night with 19 shots, the most Virginia has faced this season surpassing the 10 attempts they allowed against Maryland. Through Virginia's first five matches of the season, the Cavaliers had allowed a combined 28 shots.
Additionally, Wake Forest logged seven shots on goal. Entering Friday's match, Virginia had allowed just five shots on goal all season.
The Demon Deacons will close out their three-match homestand on Tuesday evening, hosting No. 20 Elon at Spry Stadium. Serving as the program's annual Mental Health Awareness Match, the Deacs will be wearing special green Nike jerseys with proceeds benefiting the Crosby Scholars under the Mariam Niang Memorial Scholarship.
Place your bids now on the jerseys through the end of day Tuesday.
How It Happened
- Senior Babacar Niang registered the first shot of the evening, a fourth-minute attempt that was blocked in the box.
- Despite senior Prince Amponsah blocking back-to-back Cavalier shot attempts, Virginia would take a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.
- Wake Forest tested Virginia's goalkeeper on a pair of shots by Niang and fellow senior Ryan Fessler in the 21st minute.
- In the 34th minute, Virginia was awarded a penalty kick. However, senior Trace Alphin stood tall, diving to his right to stop the attempt.
- Just three minutes later, Wake Forest had a dangerous free kick attempt just outside of the 18. The Deacs nearly got an equalizer on consecutive shots.
- In the final minute of the opening frame, senior Colin Thomas registered a shot inside the box that went over the frame.
- Sophomore Jeff White had a prime early second half attempt, as he placed a ball into the bottom corner of the frame that was knocked away by the Virginia keeper.
- Junior Cooper Flax was set up for a 61st-minute shot that was once again stopped by a sprawling Cavalier goalkeeper.
- Following a Virginia foul on the edge of the 18-yard box, Cooper Flax hit a powerful free kick off the post and into the back of the net to give the Deacs the equalizer in the 70th minute.
- The Wake Forest defense continued to stifle the Virginia attack, as the Deacs did not give up a single shot during the second half.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
- Senior Trace Alphin earned his 60th career start.
- Graduate Prince Amponsah made his 75th career appearance.
- Junior Cooper Flax made his 60th career appearance.
- Graduate Sidney Paris made his season debut, entering the match in the 73rd minute. It marked the 35th appearance of his Wake Forest career.
- The result marked the ninth tie between the two programs and the first since the 2017 ACC Tournament Championship, which Wake Forest would claim 4-3 in penalty kicks.
From Coach Muuss
"I thought it was a really good college soccer game. Both teams worked hard and tried to set up what they wanted to do in the match. Really disappointed to go down a goal when we did. Give Virginia a lot of credit. I think they came out and wanted it more than us. We were too slow, and that's my fault. But the way we responded, I thought we were relentless. When we went down a goal, we were a little bit uneasy. Obviously on the penalty, Trace makes a big save. I think that was a big momentum boost. He also made an incredible save late in the first half that I thought kept us alive. Give their goalkeeper credit, he had six saves. He made a big time save and it took a really good goal to tie the game. You look at it, obviously we're disappointed we didn't get three points, but I'm proud of the way the guys responded. I'm really proud of the way the guys responded and I'm really proud of the brand of football I think that we showcased here tonight."
Up Next
Wake Forest will face its second ranked foe of the 2024 season on Tuesday night, hosting No. 20 Elon in the program's annual Mental Health Awareness Match. Entering Friday's match, Elon was one of six program's nationally to win all of their matches to date.
Kick-off for the match is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will air nationally on ACC Network.
