Wake Forest 1, College of Charleston 0
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - Wake Forest's Anthony Arena scored the lone goal in a physical match between the sixth-ranked Demon Deacons and the College of Charleston men's soccer team on Tuesday evening at Patriots Point Soccer Stadium.
Wake Forest (8-2-2, 2-1-1 ACC) held a narrow 15-12 edge in shots while sophomore goalkeeper Clark Hankins made a career-high nine saves against the Demon Deacons. The Cougars registered six shots on goal, nearly slipping one by Wake Forest goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald on multiple occasions.
The first half was an aggressive battle between two teams, resulting in nine shots by College of Charleston and eight shots by Wake Forest. The Cougars started strong, striking four times during the first 10 minutes of action. The Demon Deacons mustered an answer at the 10:43 mark of the first half as forward Zack Shilawski sent the ball soaring into the hands of Hankins.
Later in the half, Wake Forest made four consecutive shots in a period of 30 seconds as Hankins deflected the ball three times and a CofC teammate had a hand in the fourth save. Neither team was able to score in the first half and Hankins and Fitzgerald entered the locker rooms with five saves apiece.
The Demon Deacons began to pull away in the second half as Shilawski drilled back-to-back shots which Hankins saved at 54:17 and 56:00, respectively. Arena's goal at 57:02 proved to be the difference for Wake Forest, who is now 4-0 against the Southern Conference this year.
Charleston (7-7-0, 1-2 SoCon) had a chance to even the score in the 81st minute when a shot by senior forward Zach Princewas deflected by Wake Forest's Fitzgerald to the feet of junior midfielder Justin Fojo. Fojo struck with a low shot that resulted in a diving save by Fitzgerald to keep CofC scoreless.
Five different Charleston players registered shots on goal as the Cougars attacked from all angles. Similarly, six different members of the Demon Deacons had shots on College of Charleston.
The Cougars return to their Southern Conference schedule when they travel to Statesboro, Ga. to take on the Eagles of Georgia Southern (0-9-1, 0-1 SoCon).
Duke 3, UNC Greensboro 0
DURHAM, N.C. - Duke scored two goals in a 62-second span early in the second half to put a tight match out of reach and defeat UNC Greensboro, 3-0, in men's soccer action Tuesday night.
The Blue Devils moved to 8-4-0 on the season, snapping a two-game losing skid. UNCG dropped its third straight and fell to 3-7-3 on the year.
Andrew Wenger gave the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead with 8:40 left in the opening half. Cole Grossman started the play with a corner kick. Wenger got a head on it towards the post. It appeared as if a UNCG defender may have stopped the ball prior to crossing the goal line. However, the linesman ruled the ball had crossed the line for Wenger's first tally of the year.
UNCG nearly tied the score just before half off a corner kick, but Jamel Johnson's shot sailed just wide of the net just before the first half horn sounded.
The Blue Devils, who have been a second half team this season, scored twice in 62 seconds. Entering Tuesday, 10 of Duke's 13 goals on the year had come after intermission.
Ryan Finley hit a header off a corner kick to make it 2-0. Grossman began the corner kick. Christian Ibeagha tipped the ball up and Finley got just enough of his head on it to redirect it into the goal for his sixth marker of the season.
A little over a minute later, it was Grossman's turn as he scored his fifth of the season to put the game out of reach.
UNCG goalkeeper Peyton Ford had 10 saves on the night to add to his SoCon leading save total. Duke had a 26-9 advantage in shots on goal on the night.
The Spartans return to action on Saturday night when they face Gardner-Webb for a 7 p.m. match.
No. 13 NC State 2, Georgia Southern 0
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Eagles exhibited strong defense in the first half and held #13 N.C. State (9-2-1) scoreless in the first half, but two second half goals lifted the Wolfpack over Georgia Southern (0-10-1). Federico Nachmann scored the game winner in the 51st minute for his first goal of the season.
The match opened with a pair of corner kicks by N.C. State, but the Eagles prevented the set plays from developing and cleared the ball.
Ronnie Bouemboue put the first shot on target for either team in the 11th minute, but Mike Gubosh denied him of the goal
Both teams exchanged shots on goal late in the first half, but neither was able to find the back of the net. Chrystel Bakong took the shot for the Wolfpack, and Rich Heyer put his shot on target for the Eagles' first shot on goal.
Joe Madigan took a corner kick for the Eagles at the 39 minute mark but was unable to set up a shot.
N.C. State went on the attack in the second half and took four shots in a four minute period, scoring two goals. Bouemboue started the offense but missed wide in the 49th minute. Alan Sanchez added a shot a minute later but also missed wide of the net. Sanchez would find the target two minutes later to extend the lead to two goals.
Nachmann scored the game-winning goal in the 51st minute. Chris Zuerner played the ball out wide and found Nachmann in the box for his first goal of the season.
The Eagles did not give up after the goals and recorded four of their five shots on goal in the remainder of the second half but were unable to find the game-tying goals. Ryan Mertes put a shot on target in the 57th minute, forcing Christopher Widman to make a save.
Austin Steele kept the pressure on Widman with a shot on goal in the 67th minute.
Adam Guediri and Connor Talbert put two more shots on frame, but neither could find the back of the net for the Eagles.
The Eagles return to conference play against the College of Charleston Sunday at Eagle Field.