Friday, September 6
Boiling Springs, N.C.
7 p.m.
Wake Forest University
1-2-1, 0-0-0
1
at
3
Gardner-Webb
3-0-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
Wake Forest
0
1
1
Gardner-Webb
1
2
3
Wake Forest Falls to Gardner-Webb in Non-Conference Action
9/6/2024 9:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Demon Deacons will return to Winston-Salem to begin a three-match homestand.
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. -- Traveling across the state, Wake Forest men's soccer (1-2-1, 0-0-0 ACC) fell to Gardner-Webb (3-0-1) 3-1 on Friday evening at Greene-Harbison Stadium.
Gardner-Webb took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute before doubling its advantage in the 65th minute. Despite the deficit, the Demon Deacons continued to push and netted a goal in the 76th minute, as sophomore Jeffrey White's in-swinging cross found senior Babacar Niang for his third goal of the season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs, however, added a third goal in the 88th.
Wake Forest will return to Spry Stadium to begin a three-match homestand, beginning with a non-conference showdown with Radford on Monday night.
Kick-off for the match between the Deacs and Highlanders is scheduled for 7 p.m.
How It Happened
"I'm extremely disappointed. I'm not disappointed with the overall play, but I'm disappointed with the uncharacteristic mistakes of a Wake Forest side. Gardner-Webb took their opportunities. They had three good opportunities to score goals and they scored from their opportunities. We were shy in front of the goal. We were a little bit reluctant to pull the trigger; it had to be perfect. Then, we were undisciplined with the ball. We've got to learn from it."
Up Next
Wake Forest will return to Winston-Salem for a Monday night showdown with Radford in the first meeting between the two programs in 25 years.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Gardner-Webb took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute before doubling its advantage in the 65th minute. Despite the deficit, the Demon Deacons continued to push and netted a goal in the 76th minute, as sophomore Jeffrey White's in-swinging cross found senior Babacar Niang for his third goal of the season.
The Runnin' Bulldogs, however, added a third goal in the 88th.
Wake Forest will return to Spry Stadium to begin a three-match homestand, beginning with a non-conference showdown with Radford on Monday night.
Kick-off for the match between the Deacs and Highlanders is scheduled for 7 p.m.
How It Happened
- Gardner-Webb earned a free kick in a dangerous spot in the eighth minute, but the Deacs cleared the Runnin' Bulldogs' pass into the box.
- The Runnin' Bulldogs would take a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute on the first shot of the evening.
- Wake Forest logged its first shot of the contest in the 26th minute, but senior Babacar Niang's attempt was blocked.
- The Demon Deacons finished the first half with 55 percent of the possession, with each side registering three shots.
- The Deacs applied pressure early in the second half, as Niang powered a shot 55 seconds into the new frame that went wide.
- Senior Julian Kennedy had an opportunity to equalize in the 54th minute, but his shot was saved.
- Wake Forest continued to dominate possession in the early stages of the second half, logging three shots in the first 15 minutes out of the break.
- Despite Wake Forest's consistent and steady pressure, Gardner-Webb took a 2-0 lead in the 65th minute on a counter.
- The Deacs' continued to push and it paid off in the 76th minute, as Niang converted a diving header off a cross from sophomore Jeffrey White to make the game 2-1.
- The goal was the 10th of Niang's career and third of the 2024 campaign.
- The Runnin' Bulldogs scored in the 88th minute to make the game 3-1.
- Graduate Prince Amponsah earned his 65th career start.
- Junior Cooper Flax earned his 30th career start.
- Sophomore Travis Smith earned his 10th career start in his 15th career appearance.
- Senior Ryan Fessler made his 50th career appearance.
- Senior Bo Cummins made his 45th career appearance.
- Sophomore Jose Perez made his 15th career appearance.
- Freshman Pariss Mitchell became the fourth first-year Deac to earn a spot in the Starting XI this season, joining Dylan Borso (VCU, UCF and Gardner-Webb), Daniel Krueger (UCF and Gardner-Webb) and Will Jackson (Central Arkansas).
"I'm extremely disappointed. I'm not disappointed with the overall play, but I'm disappointed with the uncharacteristic mistakes of a Wake Forest side. Gardner-Webb took their opportunities. They had three good opportunities to score goals and they scored from their opportunities. We were shy in front of the goal. We were a little bit reluctant to pull the trigger; it had to be perfect. Then, we were undisciplined with the ball. We've got to learn from it."
Up Next
Wake Forest will return to Winston-Salem for a Monday night showdown with Radford in the first meeting between the two programs in 25 years.
Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Team Stats
WAKE
GWU
Goals
1
3
Shots
13
6
Shots on Goal
4
3
Saves
0
3
Corners
6
2
Fouls
9
9
Scoring Plays
Lucas Mauro (3)
Assisted By: Max Fisher
GOAL by GWU Mauro, Lucas Assist by Fisher, Max.
08:48
Jaylen Orr (1)
Assisted By: Breno Correia
GOAL by GWU Orr, Jaylen Assist by Correia, Breno.
64:21
Babacar Niang (3)
Assisted By: Jeffrey White
GOAL by WAKE Niang, Babacar Assist by White, Jeffrey.
75:04
Philip Nicoletti (1)
Assisted By: Jalen Moore
GOAL by GWU Nicoletti, Philip Assist by Moore, Jalen.
87:33
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
3
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Shots
4
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
def
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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