No. 23 Demon Deacons Welcome Syracuse for Senior and Graduates Day

Saturday, October 17

Winston-Salem, N.C.

7 p.m.

Wake Forest University

Syracuse

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The Deacons' match against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs on Tuesday, October 13th, 2026 at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC / Wake Forest Athletics

Photo by: Seth Seebaugh / Wake Forest Athletics

No. 23 Demon Deacons Welcome Syracuse for Senior and Graduates Day

10/16/2026 11:47:00 AM | Men's Soccer

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Wake Forest looks to build on consecutive victories as the Demon Deacons host the Orange in their final ACC home match of the regular season.

By: Dylan Shackelford

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Coming off consecutive victories, the No. 23 Wake Forest men's soccer team returns to Spry Stadium on Saturday night, welcoming Syracuse for a 7 p.m. ACC matchup during Senior and Graduates Day.

The Demon Deacons enter Saturday's contest with a 9-3-1 overall record and a 4-2-0 mark in ACC play after earning a 3-1 victory over UNC Asheville on Tuesday night. Wake Forest has won eight of its last 10 matches and will look to carry that momentum into a crucial conference matchup as the regular season continues.

Syracuse enters at 7-5-1 overall and 1-3-1 in conference play. The Orange have scored 23 goals through 13 matches while allowing just 11.

Fans attending Saturday's Senior and Graduates Day matchup will have plenty of opportunities to take home Wake Forest gear and prizes. The first 400 kids ages 13 and under will receive a free hot dog, while 250 students will receive a limited-edition black replica Wake Forest jersey.

Additionally, the Greek organization with the highest attendance will win a PlayStation 5, with the winner announced during halftime. Fans can also enjoy Pizza on the Hill as part of the night's festivities at Spry Stadium.

Fans unable to attend Saturday's match can watch live on ACCNX and follow along via live stats.

SENIOR AND GRADUATES DAY

Prior to Saturday's kickoff, Wake Forest will recognize eight seniors and graduates for their contributions to the Demon Deacon men's soccer program. Recognition will begin at 6:45 p.m., ahead of the 7 p.m. kickoff.
The group includes goalkeeper Jonah Mednard, defender Travis Smith Jr., midfielder Jose Perez, midfielder Jeffrey White, midfielder Pierce Bateson, forward Ethan Subachan, defender Luke Kirilenko and forward Tate Lorentz.
The ceremony will celebrate the group's contributions to the program, both on the field and beyond, as Wake Forest hosts its final ACC home match of the regular season.

QUICK NOTES

The Demon Deacons enter Saturday ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 9 in the TopDrawerSoccer rankings.
Wake Forest ranks No. 13 in the current RPI, with notable victories over Virginia (No. 28), Boston College (No. 39) and NC State (No. 44).
- The Deacs have earned two quadrant one victories and a quadrant two win.
The Deacs sit third in the ACC standings with 12 points through six conference matches, three points behind first-place SMU, which has played one fewer game.
Wake Forest has scored 28 goals through 13 matches, averaging 2.15 per contest, while recording 35 assists.
- 12 different Demon Deacons have scored this season, with 10 recording multiple goals.
Spry Stadium has welcomed 16,131 fans through eight matches this season, averaging 2,016 fans per contest, the second-highest average attendance in the ACC.
Wake Forest owns a 7-3-3 all-time record against Syracuse, including a 6-0-2 mark in Winston-Salem.
The Demon Deacons have won 168 matches since the start of the 2015 season, tied for the most in NCAA Division I men's soccer. Their 123 home wins during that span lead the country.
Wake Forest has collected 62 ACC regular-season victories since 2015, nine more than second-place Clemson.

LAST TIME OUT

Wake Forest scored twice in a 20-second span late in the second half to pull away from UNC Asheville, earning a 3-1 victory on Tuesday night at Spry Stadium.
Winston-Salem native Tate Lorentz opened the scoring in the 16th minute, finishing at the back post after Alfred Debah drove into the penalty area and squared a pass across goal.
- Ronnie Garcia also earned an assist on the sequence as the Demon Deacons took a 1-0 advantage into halftime.
UNC Asheville equalized in the 68th minute, but Wake Forest responded with a decisive late surge. In the 87th minute, Mason Sullivan finished a short free-kick combination with Jeffrey White, firing a powerful strike past the goalkeeper to restore the Demon Deacons' advantage.
Just 20 seconds later, Nolan Tinsley capped the scoring. Debah played a long ball into the path of Pariss Mitchell, who carried the attack forward before finding Tinsley in space inside the penalty area. The freshman calmly slotted his finish into the bottom-left corner to secure the 3-1 victory.
Wake Forest finished with a 19-10 advantage in shots and an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. Lorentz scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season, while Sullivan and Tinsley added their third and second goals, respectively. Debah recorded two assists, and Garcia and Mitchell each added an assist.

ACC STANDINGS

Wake Forest enters the weekend in third place in the ACC standings with 12 points through six conference matches. The Demon Deacons are level on points with Clemson but have played one additional match, while SMU sits three points ahead with a game in hand.
Saturday's matchup presents an opportunity for Wake Forest to strengthen its position in a tightly contested conference race. Syracuse enters the weekend in 13th place with four points through five ACC matches.

Top Five in ACC Standings

Rank	Team	GP	PTS	GD	GF	GA
1	SMU	5	15	+14	15	1
2	Clemson	5	12	+6	10	4
3	Wake Forest	6	12	+5	14	9
4	Pitt	5	10	+3	8	5
5	Louisville	5	10	+2	9	7

SERIES HISTORY

Wake Forest holds a 7-3-3 all-time record against Syracuse, including a perfect 6-0-2 mark at Spry Stadium. The Orange's three victories in the series have all come away from Winston-Salem, where the Demon Deacons are 1-3-1.
The most recent meeting between the programs came in the first round of the 2024 ACC Tournament on Nov. 6 at Spry Stadium. After falling behind 1-0 in the first half, Wake Forest mounted a second-half comeback to claim a 2-1 victory and advance to the tournament quarterfinals.
- Cooper Flax leveled the match from the penalty spot in the 70th minute before Travis Smith Jr. headed home the game-winner in the 83rd minute off a flick from Dylan Borso.
- The goal marked Smith's first collegiate score and sent the Demon Deacons through to the next round.
- Wake Forest went on to defeat SMU on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals, Virginia in the semifinals and Clemson in the championship match to capture the 2024 ACC Tournament title.
The Deacs will look to continue their strong home record against the Orange as they return to conference action for the final time at Spry Stadium this regular season.

SCOUTING THE ORANGE

Syracuse enters Saturday with a 7-5-1 overall record and a 1-3-1 mark in ACC play. The Orange have scored 23 goals through 13 matches while allowing just 11, averaging 16.8 shots per game and 0.85 goals against per contest.
Pedro Gulli leads the Orange with four goals, while Bryson Rodriguez and Kristjan Fortier have each added three.
Sachiel Ming has provided a creative presence in the midfield with five assists, the most on the team, and seven points overall.
- Jordan Grey and Landon Darko have contributed two goals and two assists apiece.
Syracuse has also been disciplined defensively, conceding just 11 goals through its first 13 matches.
Goalkeeper Juan Martinez-Bastidas has been the primary option, recording 26 saves while posting a .867 save percentage and a 0.50 goals-against average across eight starts.
- He has helped the Orange record five solo clean sheets.

EL CAPITÁN

Jeffrey White continues to provide a steady presence in his first season as Wake Forest's team captain, entering Saturday with 10 points on three goals and four assists.
The Tampa, Fla., native has delivered in key moments throughout the campaign, including scoring the 87th-minute winner in the 2-1 road victory at NC State.
White also recorded two assists in the 6-1 victory over Duke and scored twice in the season opener against San Francisco.
Most recently, White assisted Sullivan's go-ahead goal against UNC Asheville, combining with the senior midfielder on the short free-kick routine that put Wake Forest back in front late in the second half.
Named an ACC Preseason Player to Watch, White continues to provide leadership and production for the Demon Deacons as they enter the second half of conference play.

HOMETOWN HERO

Winston-Salem native Tate Lorentz continues to lead the Demon Deacons' attack, entering Saturday with a team-high four goals and 11 points on four goals and three assists.
The senior scored twice in Wake Forest's 6-1 victory over Duke before delivering the game-winning penalty against Virginia with just 14 seconds remaining.
He has continued that production throughout the fall, most recently opening the scoring in Tuesday's victory over UNC Asheville.
Lorentz leads the Demon Deacons with 33 shots and has totaled 10 goals and eight assists during his Wake Forest career.
All seven of his goal contributions this season have come at Spry Stadium, making the hometown senior a key presence as the Deacs celebrate Senior and Graduates Day.

IMPACT OFF THE BENCH

Freshman Nolan Tinsley has made the most of his opportunities in his first season with the Demon Deacons, totaling two goals and two assists for six points in seven appearances, all coming off the bench.
Tinsley recorded his first collegiate goal in the 3-0 victory over Loyola Chicago on Sept. 29 before scoring again in Tuesday's win over UNC Asheville.
- His latest finish came just 20 seconds after Sullivan's go-ahead goal, capping a rapid late sequence that secured the win for Wake Forest.
The freshman has also contributed two assists, including one in the 2-1 road victory at Boston College, giving him six points in limited minutes as he continues to provide an attacking spark for the Deacs.

BETWEEN THE POSTS

Wake Forest has relied on both Jonah Mednard and Owen Barnett in goal this season, with each providing important contributions during the team's opening 13 matches.
Mednard started each of Wake Forest's first eight matches, recording 29 saves and a .784 save percentage while helping the Deacs post two solo clean sheets and combine with Quinn Syrett for another. The redshirt junior also recorded five saves against Virginia on Sept. 19.
In Mednard's absence, Barnett stepped into the starting role and has delivered a 4-1 record in five starts. The sophomore has made 14 saves while posting a .737 save percentage and a 0.96 goals-against average.
- Barnett made three saves in Tuesday's win over UNC Asheville to earn his fourth victory of the season.

CONTINUING A NATIONAL STANDARD

Wake Forest continues to rank among the nation's most successful programs under head coach Bobby Muuss, who has guided the Demon Deacons since the start of the 2015 season.
Following Tuesday's victory, Wake Forest has earned 168 wins since the start of the 2015 campaign, tied for the most in NCAA Division I men's soccer.
The Deacs have also collected 123 home victories during that span, the most in the country and at least 11 more than any other Division I program.

Overall Wins Since 2015

Rank	Team	Wins
T-1	Wake Forest	168
T-1	Indiana	168
3	Clemson	159
4	Georgetown	157
5	Stanford	148

Home Wins Since 2015

Rank	Team	Home Wins
1	Wake Forest	123
2	Indiana	112
3	Clemson	106
4	Georgetown	100
5	Virginia	99

The Demon Deacons have also continued to set the standard within the ACC, earning a league-best 62 regular-season victories since the start of the 2015 season, nine more than second-place Clemson.

ACC Regular-Season Wins Since 2015

Rank	Team	ACC Wins
1	Wake Forest	62
2	Clemson	53
3	North Carolina	49
4	Virginia	46
5	Duke	41

During Muuss' tenure, Wake Forest has also won three ACC Tournament championships, reached six College Cups in program history and made 14 of the last 15 NCAA Tournaments, continuing one of the nation's most consistent runs of success.

FAN INFORMATION

Parking is encouraged in lots A, B, Q, W1 & W2. A complete parking map of campus is here.
Gates open one hour prior to kickoff for all home matches.

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION

Wake Forest Athletics strives to provide content at games, social media and on GoDeacs.com that is accessible to all people. In the continued effort to improve accessibility of the technology and digital content at tomorrow's game, fans can access closed captions here for the public address announcer and in-venue content.
Wake Forest Athletics is always open to learning about new ideas and ways we can improve. Please report accessibility challenges, identify content you find inaccessible, or give us general feedback at maddenr@wfu.edu.

NEXT UP
Wake Forest remains at Spry Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 20, hosting Queens in a nonconference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the match airing on ACCNX.