Friday, September 19
Charlottesville, Va.
7 p.m.
Wake Forest University
4-1-3, 0-1-1
3
at
6
Virginia
5-1-1, 2-0-1
1
2
F
Wake Forest
0
3
3
Virginia
4
2
6
No. 1 Demon Deacons Suffer First Defeat of 2025 at Virginia
9/19/2025 10:07:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Wake Forest will return to action Monday against Liberty at Spry Stadium.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 1 Wake Forest men's soccer team (4-1-3, 0-1-1 ACC) fell for the first time in 2025 with a 6-3 defeat at Virginia (5-1-1, 2-0-1 ACC) Friday evening at Klöckner Stadium.
The Demon Deacons found the back of the net in the 75th and 79th minutes with strikes from senior midfielder Basit Umar.
Umar's first goal was a long-ranged strike before completing his first-career brace four minutes later as he tapped in a good ball across the face of goal from redshirt junior Nico Rabiu. It marked Rabiu's first assist of the season and fourth of his career.
Umar now has 12 career goals to his name with seven coming in a Wake Forest uniform.
Sophomore forward Harvey Sarajian rocketed a shot off a Virginia defender and into the back of the net in the 88th minute for the Deacs' third and final goal of the evening.
The Demon Deacons registered 19 shots on the night, including four from Umar and three from junior midfielder Jose Perez.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Owen Barnett played the entire second half for a career-high 45 minutes in his second appearance and finished the night with three saves.
How it Happened
Demon Deacon Details of Note
From Coach Muuss
"Extremely disappointing and humbling performance. We played a really good Virginia team that, especially in the first half, wanted it more than we did. We lacked in all areas of the game. We were not as loose as we were the last couple of games with the ball, but where we turned it over and the transitional opportunities that we gave Virginia really made us pay. I'm just proud of the way they didn't give up. They came out in the second half and played 45 minutes and we were pushing. I at least like to play for respect, play for the brand and play for each other. I think that's important. Losing is never a good thing, but it could be a good thing if we turn it into a good thing and start turning screws and paying attention to details."
Up Next
Wake Forest will now return to non-conference action as it hosts Liberty at Spry Stadium on Monday, Sept. 21. The match is slated for 7 p.m. and will serve as the WeAreWake Green Game for Mental Health Awareness.
The game-worn green jerseys are up for auction with the proceeds going to support the Trinity Center's Financial Aid program, which provides low-cost therapy for people who are uninsured and underinsured. Fans can bid here.
The clash against the Flames will be streamed live on ACCNX.
The Demon Deacons found the back of the net in the 75th and 79th minutes with strikes from senior midfielder Basit Umar.
Umar's first goal was a long-ranged strike before completing his first-career brace four minutes later as he tapped in a good ball across the face of goal from redshirt junior Nico Rabiu. It marked Rabiu's first assist of the season and fourth of his career.
Umar now has 12 career goals to his name with seven coming in a Wake Forest uniform.
Sophomore forward Harvey Sarajian rocketed a shot off a Virginia defender and into the back of the net in the 88th minute for the Deacs' third and final goal of the evening.
The Demon Deacons registered 19 shots on the night, including four from Umar and three from junior midfielder Jose Perez.
Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Owen Barnett played the entire second half for a career-high 45 minutes in his second appearance and finished the night with three saves.
How it Happened
- The Cavaliers registered the first chances of the game early, as Mednard was forced into a tough diving save in the first minute.
- The hosts recorded five shots in the first five minutes, but a block from Sullivan and another save from Mednard kept the match scoreless.
- Wake Forest had its first good look of the contest in the seventh minute after Young won a freekick from about 30 yards out, which Flax took well and forced the Virginia keeper into a diving stop.
- Virginia took a 1-0 lead in the 10th minute.
- The Deacs looked to answer immediately as Young attacked down the left wing and won the first Wake Forest corner of the evening a few minutes after the opener.
- The Cavaliers doubled the lead in the 18th minute.
- Wake Forest made its first changes of the evening in the 30th minute, with Subachan, Debah Sarahian, Krueger entering the pitch.
- Virginia scored twice more before the half and led 4-0 at the break.
- Flax had another free kick attempt in the 49th minute, but missed just over the bar.
- The Cavaliers made it 5-0 in the 65th minute.
- Umar scored his second of the year with a long-ranged strike in the 75th minute before tapping in his second on an assist from Rabiu four minutes later.
- Walent almost found a third but it was tipped onto the bar by the Virginia keeper.
- Wake Forest made it 5-3 in the 88th minute as Sarajian shot it off of a Virginia defender and into the back of the net.
- The Cavaliers added another with 48 seconds to go.
- The Demon Deacons fell, 6-3.
Demon Deacon Details of Note
- Umar recorded his first-career brace with back-to-back goals in the 75th and 79th minutes.
- He now has seven goals for Wake Forest and 12 for his career.
- With his assist on the second goal, Rabiu now has four for his career.
- Jonah Mednard made his 10th career appearance in goal.
- Harvey Sarajian made his 25th career appearance.
From Coach Muuss
"Extremely disappointing and humbling performance. We played a really good Virginia team that, especially in the first half, wanted it more than we did. We lacked in all areas of the game. We were not as loose as we were the last couple of games with the ball, but where we turned it over and the transitional opportunities that we gave Virginia really made us pay. I'm just proud of the way they didn't give up. They came out in the second half and played 45 minutes and we were pushing. I at least like to play for respect, play for the brand and play for each other. I think that's important. Losing is never a good thing, but it could be a good thing if we turn it into a good thing and start turning screws and paying attention to details."
Up Next
Wake Forest will now return to non-conference action as it hosts Liberty at Spry Stadium on Monday, Sept. 21. The match is slated for 7 p.m. and will serve as the WeAreWake Green Game for Mental Health Awareness.
The game-worn green jerseys are up for auction with the proceeds going to support the Trinity Center's Financial Aid program, which provides low-cost therapy for people who are uninsured and underinsured. Fans can bid here.
The clash against the Flames will be streamed live on ACCNX.
Team Stats
WF
UVA
Goals
3
6
Shots
19
22
Shots on Goal
5
13
Saves
6
2
Corners
7
6
Fouls
16
14
Scoring Plays
Nicholas Simmonds (4)
Assisted By: Marco Dos Santos , Umberto Pelà
GOAL by UVA Simmonds, Nicholas Assist by Dos Santos, Marco and Pelà, Umberto.
09:32
Nicholas Simmonds (4)
Assisted By: Jesus De Vicente
GOAL by UVA Simmonds, Nicholas Assist by De Vicente, Jesus.
17:25
Bacary Tandjigora (1)
Assisted By: Alex Parvu
GOAL by UVA Tandjigora, Bacary Assist by Parvu, Alex.
32:20
Sebastian Pop (1)
Assisted By: Jesus De Vicente
GOAL by UVA Pop, Sebastian Assist by De Vicente, Jesus.
38:03
Luke Burns (2)
Assisted By: Alex Parvu , Triton Beauvois
GOAL by UVA Burns, Luke Assist by Parvu, Alex and Beauvois, Triton.
60:59
Basit Umar (3)
GOAL by WF Umar, Basit.
74:54
Basit Umar (3)
Assisted By: Nico Rabiu
GOAL by WF Umar, Basit Assist by Rabiu, Nico.
78:35
0
GOAL by WF TEAM.
87:35
Samuel Oulouheu (1)
Assisted By: David Okorie
GOAL by UVA Oulouheu, Samuel Assist by Okorie, David.
89:10
Game Leaders
Players
mid
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
2
Assists
0
mid
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
mid
Shots
3
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
/ Men's SoccerMidfielder
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