Wake Forest Falls to No. 10 Akron, 1-0

Friday, August 28

Akron, Ohio

7 p.m.

Wake Forest University

1-1-1, 0-0-0

Akron

2-0-1, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Wake Forest	0	0	0
Akron	0	1	1

8/28/2026 10:20:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score PDF Box Score PDF Season Stats

The Demon Deacons held the Zips scoreless for more than 83 minutes before a late goal handed Wake Forest its first loss of the season.

By: Dylan Shackelford

AKRON, Ohio - Despite a solid performance from redshirt junior goalkeeper Jonah Mednard that kept the match scoreless into the final seven minutes, the Wake Forest men's soccer team (1-1-1) suffered its first defeat of the 2026 season Friday night, falling 1-0 to No. 10 Akron (2-0-1) at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Mednard was tested early by the nationally ranked Zips, making three saves in the opening 45 minutes to keep the contest scoreless at halftime.

The Zips continued to apply pressure after the break, but Mednard and the Demon Deacon defense continued to hold firm. Mednard made two more saves in the second half, including massive stops on shots from Kossehasse in the 55th minute and Sullivan in the 73rd minute.

Mednard finished the night with five saves, bringing his career total to 63. Before the lone goal Friday night, the Deacs had gone 283 minutes without conceding with 10 saves from Medard during that span.

Wake Forest generated some of its best opportunities of the night late in the second half. Tate Lorentz forced a save from Akron goalkeeper Brett Kaminski in the 76th minute before sending another attempt just high in the 81st.

Akron broke through in the 84th minute as Noa Testa gave the Zips a 1-0 advantage.

Wake Forest pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but could not find the breakthrough. Ethan Subachan sent an attempt high less than a minute after the goal, while Joby Reid put a late shot wide in the 89th minute.

In front of Mednard, centerbacks Daniel Krueger and Mason Sullivan battled all night and went the full 90 minutes for the second-consecutive match. Meanwhile, rightback Copeland Berkley went the distance for the first time in his career.

Of note, this marked Jeffrey White's 60th career appearance in the Old Gold & Black, the most out of any active Demon Deacon with Perez (55) and Travis Smith Jr. (53) the only other two with more than 50.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Wake Forest and Akron played to a scoreless halftime draw, with Mednard making three first-half saves.
The Zips continued to pressure after halftime, but Mednard added two more saves to keep the match tied.
Lorentz recorded two second-half shots, including one that forced a save from Kaminski in the 76th minute.
Akron's Noa Testa scored the lone goal of the match at 83:06, assisted by Kaminski and Paiva.
Wake Forest generated two shots after the goal but could not find an equalizer.

FROM COACH MUUSS
"That was a tough result. I think the guys competed for 90 minutes. They fought. We showed characteristics that maybe we haven't shown in the past, which is grit and grind, and that's not being disrespectful to former teams. We were just at a different level tonight, the way they tracked back in transition and hunted the ball was so good. I'm so proud of them.

Jonah had a great game tonight, and just one mistake cost us the match. Maybe there were things that we could have done prior to that through ball getting in. I'm gutted for the group because of the way we conceded. I'm not gutted for the group for the way they competed. If we continue to compete like that and we continue to grow and get better, this group can be special."

UP NEXT
The Demon Deacons will remain in Ohio as they prepare for their second road match of the season, traveling to Bowling Green on Monday, Aug. 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.