No. 1 Deacs Fall to North Carolina 1-0 at College Cup
Wake Forest ends season with 21-2-1

Dec. 12, 2008

Box Score

FRISCO, Texas - No. 1 ranked and top-seeded Wake Forest (21-2-1) mounted a late rally, but were unable to tally the equalizing goal as North Carolina (15-7-1) held on for a 1-0 victory on Friday night in the semifinals of the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

The loss ends one of the most dominant seasons by any team in the history of college soccer. Ranked as the consensus number one team for the entire regular season, Wake Forest finished the year with 81 goals, a new school record and the most by any team since the 1998 season. Wake finished the season scoring 3.38 goals per game, one goal more per game than the second place team. The Deacons only allowed 17 goals on the year, for a staggering goal differential of 64 goals.

The game also marked the end of the collegiate playing careers for the eight-member Wake Forest senior class. The class of Lyle Adams, Cline Beam, Evan Brown, Will Clayton, Sam Cronin, Jamie Franks, Michael Lahoud and Marcus Tracy closed their careers as the winningest class in Wake Forest history with a 74-15-9 record. The seniors led Wake Forest to three consecutive College Cup appearances and the 2007 national championship.

Wake Forest held a dominating shot advantage in the game, out-shooting North Carolina 20-9, including a 15-3 advantage in the second half. The Deacons had seven shots on goal, compared to just four for the Tar Heels.

Junior goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald made three saves in the game, allowing one goal. UNC goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty made seven saves in the game and picked up his third shutout of the NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina struck first, scoring in the fourth minute of the game. Zach Loyd played a cross to Brian Shriver, who headed the ball from the right side of the box. The ball went off the outstretched hand of Fitzgerald and into the right side of the net.

Wake Forest was able to get its best scoring chance of the opening minutes in the 19th minute. Corben Bone's shot from inside the 18-yard box went wide of the right post.

The Demon Deacons were able to generate a pair of corner kicks in the final 10 minutes of the first half, but were unable to generate any quality scoring chances.

The Tar Heels nearly extended their lead with two minutes remaining in the first half. Billy Schuler fired a shot from near the edge of the 18-yard box that sailed just wide of the right post to keep the UNC lead at 1-0.

The 1-0 deficit at the half marked just the second time this season that Wake Forest had trailed at the halfway point. The only other time was also against North Carolina in the regular season matchup between the two teams.

Both teams were able to generate quality scoring chances in the first five minutes of the second half. Sam Cronin sent a shot from 25 yards wide of the goal in the 49th minute. A minute later, Garry Lewis had a shot that went wide of the goal.

The Deacs nearly equalized in the 52nd minute. Marcus Tracy turned and fired a shot from 17 yards out that forced North Carolina goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty to leap and make a fingertip save.

Wake Forest had its best scoring chance with 25 minutes left in the second half. Tracy and Zack Schilawski were each able to get off shots near the six-yard box, but the UNC defenders were able to block both shots, before clearing the ball away from danger.

North Carolina again had another good chance with just over 21 minutes remaining in the game. Shriver had an open look at the goal from 18 yards out but Fitzgerald was able to make a diving stop to keep the lead at one.

Wake was close to tying the game again in the 73rd minute. Schilawski got a pair of shots from about nine yards out, but both times Haggerty was able to make sprawling saves to keep Wake Forest off the scoreboard.

Schilawski had another great chance with five and a half minutes left in the game. Schilawski had a great look at the goal from eight yards, but his shot went high of the net.

Wake again had a fantastic chance with just over three minutes left in the game. Lyle Adams was able to get a head on the ball from right in front of the goal but Haggerty was able to make the save. A few seconds later, Tracy got a head on the ball but his shot hit off the crossbar.

The Deacons were unable to mount another great scoring opportunity as North Carolina held on for the 1-0 victory.