Tuesday, September 16
Winston-Salem, N.C.
7 p.m.
Wake Forest University
4-0-3, 0-0-1
3
vs
3
UNCW
1-2-2, 1-1-0
1
2
F
UNCW
1
2
3
Wake Forest
1
2
3
No. 1 Demon Deacons Remain Unbeaten with Draw Against UNCW
9/16/2025 9:43:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The Demon Deacons have started the 2025 campaign with seven-straight unbeaten after a 3-3 contest against the Seahawks.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Highlighted by a brace from junior Tate Lorentz, the No. 1 Wake Forest men's soccer team (4-0-3, 0-0-1 ACC) drew with in-state foe UNCW (1-2-2, 1-1-0 CAA), 3-3, Tuesday evening at Spry Stadium.
After the Seahawks took an early lead in the first minute, the Demon Deacons responded in the 13th as Tate Lorentz controlled a great ball from Basit Umar into the box and slotted home the equalizer for his team-high third goal of the season.
Lorentz won a penalty in the 53rd minute and put the Deacs in front as he became the first Demon Deacon with a brace since Cooper Flax did so in the ACC semifinal last season against Virginia on Nov. 14.
The Demon Deacons added a third in the 63rd minute as beautiful team play set up junior Jeffrey White with a one-on-one against the keeper before firing it into the back of the net. Lorentz and Thomas picked up assists on the goal.
UNCW responded, however, with a goal in the 71st minute before being rewarded a 90th-minute penalty kick which would be converted.
Thomas, who recorded the first multi-assist game of his career, is now tied with Umar for the team lead with three assists on the year.
Wake Forest has started unbeaten through seven matches for the third time under head coach Bobby Muuss, with the previous two instances coming in 2018 (11) and 2022 (9).
Since 2015, Muuss has led the Deacs to a stellar 94-16-10 record against non-conference opponents including a 4-0-2 mark this season. Additionally, Wake Forest is 108-17-11 during that time against unranked opposition.
The Demon Deacons are now unbeaten in their last 18 matches at Spry Stadium with wins in nine of the last 11. The Deacs hold a 13-0-5 home record dating back to Aug. 25 of last year.
How it Happened
Man of the Match - Tate Lorentz
Demon Deacon Details of Note
From Coach Muuss
"I think the first half, especially the way we started the game, there's no place for it. It was really quiet. Energy level was low, decisions were bad, and we picked up where we left off against North Carolina. We just kept making unforced turnovers and they made us pay. I thought we settled the game down and found our way into the game going into halftime feeling good. We hit the bar a couple of times. and We started the second half very well. I thought we came out and played well in the second half. We did everything we needed to win the game and be up 3-1. Then, we had some really not soccer intelligent decisions from key players. We're up 3-1 with five minutes left, right. We had to just go forward with the ball, but we kept passing the ball back and putting ourselves into presses. If we don't learn from that, it's going to be a problem in the future. We can't be up 3-1 at home and drop points. It feels a little bit more like a loss today than a draw. No disrespect to UNC Wilmington. They fought until the very end, but when you are up 3-1, you have to find a way to get the win."
Up Next
After Tuesday night's match, Wake Forest will return to ACC play as it takes on Virginia in Charlottesville on Friday, Sept. 19. The match against the Cavaliers is slated for 7 p.m. and will stream live on ACC Network. This will be a rematch of last season's ACC semifinal in which the Deacs routed the Cavaliers, 5-1, en route to the championship.
After the Seahawks took an early lead in the first minute, the Demon Deacons responded in the 13th as Tate Lorentz controlled a great ball from Basit Umar into the box and slotted home the equalizer for his team-high third goal of the season.
Lorentz won a penalty in the 53rd minute and put the Deacs in front as he became the first Demon Deacon with a brace since Cooper Flax did so in the ACC semifinal last season against Virginia on Nov. 14.
The Demon Deacons added a third in the 63rd minute as beautiful team play set up junior Jeffrey White with a one-on-one against the keeper before firing it into the back of the net. Lorentz and Thomas picked up assists on the goal.
UNCW responded, however, with a goal in the 71st minute before being rewarded a 90th-minute penalty kick which would be converted.
Thomas, who recorded the first multi-assist game of his career, is now tied with Umar for the team lead with three assists on the year.
Wake Forest has started unbeaten through seven matches for the third time under head coach Bobby Muuss, with the previous two instances coming in 2018 (11) and 2022 (9).
Since 2015, Muuss has led the Deacs to a stellar 94-16-10 record against non-conference opponents including a 4-0-2 mark this season. Additionally, Wake Forest is 108-17-11 during that time against unranked opposition.
The Demon Deacons are now unbeaten in their last 18 matches at Spry Stadium with wins in nine of the last 11. The Deacs hold a 13-0-5 home record dating back to Aug. 25 of last year.
How it Happened
- The Seahawks took the lead 45 seconds into the match.
- In the 11th minute, Flax came inches away from an equalizer as he rocketed a shot from outside the 18 that struck the left post.
- Wake Forest won its first corner of the evening a few seconds later.
- Wake Forest found the equalizer in the 13th minute following a great ball over the top from Umar, which Lorentz controlled beautifully and slotted it home with his right foot.
- It marked the third goal of the season for Lorentz and third assist for Umar.
- Thomas was credited with the secondary assist for his second of the campaign.
- Perez came close to his third long-distance goal of the campaign in the 25th minute as he forced the keeper into a diving stop that went behind for a Wake Forest corner.
- In the 29th, White attempted a curler with his left foot that just missed wide.
- The Demon Deacons went into the locker room level at 1-1.
- Wake Forest held a 9-to-6 shots advantage and held 59 percent of the ball over the first 45 minutes.
- The Deacs jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the 53rd minute as Lorentz was taken down in the box before he converted on a PK attempt, Wake Forest's first of the 2025 campaign.
- Just 13 minutes later, junior Jeffrey White recorded his second goal of the season beating the Seahawks' keeper following beautiful set-up play from Lorentz and Thomas.
- The assist marked a five-point performance from Lorentz while Thomas recorded the first multi-assist game of his career.
- UNCW, however, would respond with a pair of goals in the 71st and 90 minutes before the final whistle blew at 3-3.
Man of the Match - Tate Lorentz
- Notching his first-career brace Tuesday night, Lorentz now leads the Demon Deacons in goals (four) and points (eight).
- He became the first Demon Deacon with a brace since Cooper Flax did so in the ACC semifinal last season against Virginia (Nov. 14).
- He leveled the match in the 13th minute before firing the Deacs in front with a penalty he won in the 53rd.
- The Winston-Salem native also added the assist on Jeffrey White's goal in the 63rd minute to put the Deacs up 3-1.
- He is the seventh Wake Forest player to win man of the match this season:
- August 24 vs. UCF: Jeffrey White
- August 28 vs. Oral Roberts: Jose Perez
- August 31 vs. St. John's: Jonah Mednard
- September 5 vs. Lipscomb: Basit Umar
- September 9 vs. Campbell: Mason Sullivan
- September 12 vs. North Carolina: Cristian Escribano
- September 16 vs. UNCW: Tate Lorentz
Demon Deacon Details of Note
- With secondary assists on the first and third goals, Thomas recorded the first multi-assist game of his career and is now tied for the team lead with three on the year.
- Thomas is tied with Umar, who also added an assist on the night, for the team lead.
- Wake Forest is now 6-2-2 against UNCW dating back to the first meeting in 1980 and are 4-0-2 in the last six meetings.
- Cooper Flax made his 65th career appearance, the most out of any active Demon Deacon.
- Travis Smith Jr. made his 40th career appearance.
- Jose Perez earned his 30th career start.
- Amoni Thomas earned his 20th career start.
- Jeffrey White earned his 20th career start.
From Coach Muuss
"I think the first half, especially the way we started the game, there's no place for it. It was really quiet. Energy level was low, decisions were bad, and we picked up where we left off against North Carolina. We just kept making unforced turnovers and they made us pay. I thought we settled the game down and found our way into the game going into halftime feeling good. We hit the bar a couple of times. and We started the second half very well. I thought we came out and played well in the second half. We did everything we needed to win the game and be up 3-1. Then, we had some really not soccer intelligent decisions from key players. We're up 3-1 with five minutes left, right. We had to just go forward with the ball, but we kept passing the ball back and putting ourselves into presses. If we don't learn from that, it's going to be a problem in the future. We can't be up 3-1 at home and drop points. It feels a little bit more like a loss today than a draw. No disrespect to UNC Wilmington. They fought until the very end, but when you are up 3-1, you have to find a way to get the win."
Up Next
After Tuesday night's match, Wake Forest will return to ACC play as it takes on Virginia in Charlottesville on Friday, Sept. 19. The match against the Cavaliers is slated for 7 p.m. and will stream live on ACC Network. This will be a rematch of last season's ACC semifinal in which the Deacs routed the Cavaliers, 5-1, en route to the championship.
Team Stats
UNCW
WFU
Goals
3
3
Shots
13
18
Shots on Goal
8
8
Saves
5
5
Corners
4
5
Fouls
14
10
Scoring Plays
Osei Gyamfi (2)
Assisted By: Ethan Newsome
GOAL by UNCW Gyamfi, Osei Assist by Newsome, Ethan.
00:43
Tate Lorentz (3)
Assisted By: Basit Umar , Amoni Thomas
GOAL by WFU Lorentz, Tate Assist by Umar, Basit and Thomas, Amoni.
12:43
Tate Lorentz (3)
WFU Tate Lorentz PENALTY KICK GOAL.
52:47
Jeffrey White (2)
Assisted By: Tate Lorentz , Amoni Thomas
GOAL by WFU White, Jeffrey Assist by Lorentz, Tate and Thomas, Amoni.
65:30
Bryan Miralrio (1)
Assisted By: Gavin Carmichael
GOAL by UNCW Miralrio, Bryan Assist by Carmichael, Gavin.
70:51
Christian Acevedo (1)
UNCW Christian Acevedo PENALTY KICK GOAL.
89:17
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
2
Assists
1
Shots
5
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
2
mid
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's SoccerMidfielder/Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's SoccerDefender
/ Men's SoccerMidfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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