Wake Forest Athletics
Friday, October 2
Winston-Salem, N.C.
7 p.m.
Wake Forest University
vs
SMU
Photo by: Bella Pfister / Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacons Host No. 1 SMU Friday Night in Top-of-the-Table Clash
10/1/2026 11:59:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Wake Forest and SMU enter Friday's matchup tied atop the ACC standings with nine points apiece.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Serving as the program's annual Genna Wiley Memorial Pink Match, the Wake Forest men's soccer team returns to ACC play Friday night, welcoming No. 1 SMU to Spry Stadium for a 7 p.m. matchup.
The Demon Deacons enter Friday's contest with a 7-2-1 overall record and a 3-1-0 mark in ACC play after winning three consecutive matches and six of their last seven. Wake Forest most recently defeated Loyola Chicago, 3-0, Tuesday night at Spry Stadium, scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes before adding a third goal in the 81st minute.
Wake Forest has scored 23 goals through its first 10 matches, averaging 2.30 goals per game, while allowing just nine. The Deacs have four players tied for the team lead with three goals, Tate Lorentz, Jeffrey White, Chandler Young and Joby Reid, while Lorentz and White pace the team with nine points apiece.
Students will have the opportunity to receive one of 500 pink Wake Forest hats at the gate, along with chances to win two flat-screen televisions, three $100 Visa gift cards and Pizza on the Hill. One television and one Visa gift card will be raffled at halftime, with another television and Visa gift card awarded following the match.
The third Visa gift card will be used for the halftime Closest to the Pin promotion, while winners must remain through the conclusion of the match to claim their prizes. Fans will also have a chance to win a $150 Fratelli's gift card in a postgame raffle.
Fans unable to attend the match can tune in on ACCNX and can follow along via live stats here.
GENNA WILEY MEMORIAL PINK MATCH
Bidding for the game-worn jerseys in Friday night's match will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Friday. The proceeds raised will go to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's Cancer Health Equity Patient Care Fund.
The match is named in honor of the wife of former men's soccer athletic trainer Steve Wiley, Genna, who passed away after a long battle with breast cancer three days after Wake Forest won the 2007 NCAA National Championship.
SEARCHING FOR HISTORY AGAINST NO. 1
The Demon Deacons have defeated a No. 1-ranked opponent three times in program history, earning victories over Virginia (2-0) in 1991, Washington (2-1) in 1998 and most recently Maryland (4-2) in 2012. The Maryland match was the only instance the Deacs took down the top-ranked team at Spry Stadium.
A win Friday would also mark the 18th victory by a Wake Forest team over a No. 1 opponent across all sports. The previous 17 include wins by men's tennis, women's golf, women's soccer, men's basketball and baseball. Of note, it has been accomplished five times over the last three years.
Wake Forest Wins Over No. 1 Since 2024
TOP OF THE TABLE
Friday's matchup features the top two teams in the current ACC standings. Wake Forest enters the night in first place with nine points and a plus-six goal differential, while SMU sits second only on goals scored, where the Demon Deacons hold a 12-to-7 edge.
TOP-FIVE IN ACC STANDINGS
STRONG SEPTEMBER
Wake Forest has won three straight matches and six of its last seven, including each of its last two ACC contests. The Deacs opened conference play with a 6-1 victory over Duke before earning dramatic victories against Virginia and NC State.
Against Virginia, Wake Forest overcame a second-half comeback by the Cavaliers, with Tate Lorentz converting a penalty with 14 seconds remaining to secure the win. At NC State, Chandler Young gave the Deacs an early lead before Jeffrey White scored the game-winner in the 87th minute.
The Deacs continued that run Tuesday against Loyola Chicago, racing out to a 2-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes before Nolan Tinsley added his first collegiate goal in the 81st minute. Wake Forest outshot the Ramblers 22-15 and recorded its fourth clean sheet of the season.
Wake Forest has also shown a propensity for fast starts this season, scoring 16 of its 23 goals in the first half.
SERIES HISTORY
This will mark just the fourth all-time meeting between the two schools, and first in Winston-Salem, with each of the previous three matchups coming since 2024.
In the lone regular season match between the two, the Mustangs secured a 2-0 victory in Dallas on Oct. 25, 2024, but Wake Forest returned two weeks later in the second round of the ACC Tournament and advanced on penalty kicks after a thrilling 2-2 draw.
The Demon Deacons once again returned to Texas in the first round of last year's ACC Tournament in a nine-goal thriller that saw the hosts edge the Deacs, 5-4.
THE MUSTANGS
SMU has produced one of the nation's strongest statistical starts through nine matches, scoring 26 goals while allowing just three.
Opponents have managed just 65 shots against SMU all season, an average of 7.2 per game. The Mustangs have recorded six shutouts and have held opponents scoreless in each of their three ACC victories.
SMU's attack has been led by Stephan Soghomonian and Mukisa Emmanuel, who have each scored five goals and tallied 11 points. Jaylinn Mitchell has added five assists and nine points, while Milton Lopez, Landon Hickam and Enzo Panozzo have each found the back of the net three times.
EL CAPITÁN
Jeffrey White has continued to provide a steady presence in his first season as team captain, entering Friday tied for the team lead with nine points on three goals and three assists.
The Tampa, Fla., native delivered the latest of those goals in dramatic fashion at NC State, finding the back of the net in the 87th minute to lift the Demon Deacons to a 2-1 road victory. White also recorded two assists in Wake Forest's 6-1 victory over Duke earlier this season.
With his game-winner against the Wolfpack, White moved to seven goals and eight assists for 22 career points at Wake Forest.
HOMETOWN HERO
Winston-Salem native Tate Lorentz continues to lead the Demon Deacons' attack, entering Friday tied with White for the team lead with nine points on three goals and three assists.
Lorentz scored twice in Wake Forest's 6-1 victory over Duke and later delivered the game-winning penalty against Virginia with just 14 seconds remaining. He also recorded a pair of assists in the season opener against San Francisco before adding another against USC Upstate.
The senior leads the team with 27 shots this season and has nine goals, eight assists and 26 points during his Wake Forest career. All six of his goal contributions this season have come at Spry Stadium.
INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Wake Forest will play its third consecutive match without starting goalkeeper Jonah Mednard, who remains away with the Haiti Men's National Team after earning his first senior national team call-up earlier this month.
Mednard started each of Wake Forest's first eight matches, recording 29 saves and a .784 save percentage while recording two solo clean sheets and combining with Quinn Syrett for another.
With Mednard away, Owen Barnett has stepped into the starting role and delivered two strong performances. He made three saves and earned his first collegiate victory at NC State before recording four saves and his first career clean sheet against Loyola Chicago. Barnett is now 2-0-0 in his two starts this season with eight total saves and a .889 save percentage.
CONTINUING A NATIONAL STANDARD
Tuesday's victory over Loyola moved Wake Forest to 166 wins since the start of the 2015 season, the most in NCAA Division I men's soccer during that span. The Deacs also have 122 home victories since 2015, extending their national lead in that category.
Wake Forest has also continued to build one of the nation's strongest home records under head coach Bobby Muuss. The Deacs are 5-0-1 at Spry Stadium this season and have won 122 home matches since the start of the 2015 campaign.
NEXT UP
Wake Forest hits the road next Friday, Oct. 9, traveling to Boston College for a 7 p.m. ACC matchup.
The Demon Deacons enter Friday's contest with a 7-2-1 overall record and a 3-1-0 mark in ACC play after winning three consecutive matches and six of their last seven. Wake Forest most recently defeated Loyola Chicago, 3-0, Tuesday night at Spry Stadium, scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes before adding a third goal in the 81st minute.
Wake Forest has scored 23 goals through its first 10 matches, averaging 2.30 goals per game, while allowing just nine. The Deacs have four players tied for the team lead with three goals, Tate Lorentz, Jeffrey White, Chandler Young and Joby Reid, while Lorentz and White pace the team with nine points apiece.
Students will have the opportunity to receive one of 500 pink Wake Forest hats at the gate, along with chances to win two flat-screen televisions, three $100 Visa gift cards and Pizza on the Hill. One television and one Visa gift card will be raffled at halftime, with another television and Visa gift card awarded following the match.
The third Visa gift card will be used for the halftime Closest to the Pin promotion, while winners must remain through the conclusion of the match to claim their prizes. Fans will also have a chance to win a $150 Fratelli's gift card in a postgame raffle.
Fans unable to attend the match can tune in on ACCNX and can follow along via live stats here.
GENNA WILEY MEMORIAL PINK MATCH
Bidding for the game-worn jerseys in Friday night's match will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Friday. The proceeds raised will go to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist's Cancer Health Equity Patient Care Fund.
The match is named in honor of the wife of former men's soccer athletic trainer Steve Wiley, Genna, who passed away after a long battle with breast cancer three days after Wake Forest won the 2007 NCAA National Championship.
SEARCHING FOR HISTORY AGAINST NO. 1
The Demon Deacons have defeated a No. 1-ranked opponent three times in program history, earning victories over Virginia (2-0) in 1991, Washington (2-1) in 1998 and most recently Maryland (4-2) in 2012. The Maryland match was the only instance the Deacs took down the top-ranked team at Spry Stadium.
A win Friday would also mark the 18th victory by a Wake Forest team over a No. 1 opponent across all sports. The previous 17 include wins by men's tennis, women's golf, women's soccer, men's basketball and baseball. Of note, it has been accomplished five times over the last three years.
Wake Forest Wins Over No. 1 Since 2024
| Date | Sport | Opponent | Location | Score |
| March 22, 2026 | Men's Tennis | Virginia | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 4-3 |
| Sept. 17, 2025 | Women's Golf | Stanford | Lake Bluff, Ill. | 3-2 |
| April 18, 2025 | Women's Golf | Stanford | Greensboro, N.C. | 3-2 |
| Feb. 18, 2025 | Men's Tennis | TCU | Dallas, Texas | 4-3 |
| Sept. 19, 2024 | Women's Soccer | Stanford | Winston-Salem, N.C. | 1-0 |
Friday's matchup features the top two teams in the current ACC standings. Wake Forest enters the night in first place with nine points and a plus-six goal differential, while SMU sits second only on goals scored, where the Demon Deacons hold a 12-to-7 edge.
TOP-FIVE IN ACC STANDINGS
| # | Team | GP | GD | GF | GA | PTS |
| 1 | Wake Forest | 4 | +6 | 12 | 6 | 9 |
| 2 | SMU | 3 | +6 | 7 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | Clemson | 4 | +5 | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| 4 | Virginia Tech | 4 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 5 | Virginia | 3 | +2 | 7 | 5 | 6 |
Wake Forest has won three straight matches and six of its last seven, including each of its last two ACC contests. The Deacs opened conference play with a 6-1 victory over Duke before earning dramatic victories against Virginia and NC State.
Against Virginia, Wake Forest overcame a second-half comeback by the Cavaliers, with Tate Lorentz converting a penalty with 14 seconds remaining to secure the win. At NC State, Chandler Young gave the Deacs an early lead before Jeffrey White scored the game-winner in the 87th minute.
The Deacs continued that run Tuesday against Loyola Chicago, racing out to a 2-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes before Nolan Tinsley added his first collegiate goal in the 81st minute. Wake Forest outshot the Ramblers 22-15 and recorded its fourth clean sheet of the season.
Wake Forest has also shown a propensity for fast starts this season, scoring 16 of its 23 goals in the first half.
SERIES HISTORY
This will mark just the fourth all-time meeting between the two schools, and first in Winston-Salem, with each of the previous three matchups coming since 2024.
In the lone regular season match between the two, the Mustangs secured a 2-0 victory in Dallas on Oct. 25, 2024, but Wake Forest returned two weeks later in the second round of the ACC Tournament and advanced on penalty kicks after a thrilling 2-2 draw.
The Demon Deacons once again returned to Texas in the first round of last year's ACC Tournament in a nine-goal thriller that saw the hosts edge the Deacs, 5-4.
THE MUSTANGS
SMU has produced one of the nation's strongest statistical starts through nine matches, scoring 26 goals while allowing just three.
Opponents have managed just 65 shots against SMU all season, an average of 7.2 per game. The Mustangs have recorded six shutouts and have held opponents scoreless in each of their three ACC victories.
SMU's attack has been led by Stephan Soghomonian and Mukisa Emmanuel, who have each scored five goals and tallied 11 points. Jaylinn Mitchell has added five assists and nine points, while Milton Lopez, Landon Hickam and Enzo Panozzo have each found the back of the net three times.
EL CAPITÁN
Jeffrey White has continued to provide a steady presence in his first season as team captain, entering Friday tied for the team lead with nine points on three goals and three assists.
The Tampa, Fla., native delivered the latest of those goals in dramatic fashion at NC State, finding the back of the net in the 87th minute to lift the Demon Deacons to a 2-1 road victory. White also recorded two assists in Wake Forest's 6-1 victory over Duke earlier this season.
With his game-winner against the Wolfpack, White moved to seven goals and eight assists for 22 career points at Wake Forest.
HOMETOWN HERO
Winston-Salem native Tate Lorentz continues to lead the Demon Deacons' attack, entering Friday tied with White for the team lead with nine points on three goals and three assists.
Lorentz scored twice in Wake Forest's 6-1 victory over Duke and later delivered the game-winning penalty against Virginia with just 14 seconds remaining. He also recorded a pair of assists in the season opener against San Francisco before adding another against USC Upstate.
The senior leads the team with 27 shots this season and has nine goals, eight assists and 26 points during his Wake Forest career. All six of his goal contributions this season have come at Spry Stadium.
INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Wake Forest will play its third consecutive match without starting goalkeeper Jonah Mednard, who remains away with the Haiti Men's National Team after earning his first senior national team call-up earlier this month.
Mednard started each of Wake Forest's first eight matches, recording 29 saves and a .784 save percentage while recording two solo clean sheets and combining with Quinn Syrett for another.
With Mednard away, Owen Barnett has stepped into the starting role and delivered two strong performances. He made three saves and earned his first collegiate victory at NC State before recording four saves and his first career clean sheet against Loyola Chicago. Barnett is now 2-0-0 in his two starts this season with eight total saves and a .889 save percentage.
CONTINUING A NATIONAL STANDARD
Tuesday's victory over Loyola moved Wake Forest to 166 wins since the start of the 2015 season, the most in NCAA Division I men's soccer during that span. The Deacs also have 122 home victories since 2015, extending their national lead in that category.
Wake Forest has also continued to build one of the nation's strongest home records under head coach Bobby Muuss. The Deacs are 5-0-1 at Spry Stadium this season and have won 122 home matches since the start of the 2015 campaign.
NEXT UP
Wake Forest hits the road next Friday, Oct. 9, traveling to Boston College for a 7 p.m. ACC matchup.
Players Mentioned
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
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