North Carolina
11-2-0,ACC 4-1-0
Wake Forest
11-1-0,ACC 5-0-0
#2 Wake Forest Defeats #4 Tar Heels 2-1
October 6, 2017 | Men's Soccer
CARY, N.C. - Two of the top programs in men's college soccer squared off Friday night as North Carolina was handed a tight 2-1 defeat by Wake Forest at WakeMed Soccer Park. The 2-1 decision was the eighth-straight match decided by one point or less in the series between the Tar Heels and the Demon Deacons.
North Carolina and Wake Forest came in as the top two scoring teams in the country, but the first half was a defensive affair. Both teams had five shots and Wake Forest led in corners, 5-3. The top-five squads showed their prowess keeping the ball in the middle of the field for much of the half and knocking away numerous opportunities from the box.
Wake Forest opened the scoring in the 39th minute as Omir Fernandez streaked down the right sideline to catch a Bruno Lapa pass that cut through the North Carolina defense. It was Fernandez versus North Carolina goalie Alec Smir as Fernandez hit the ball just beneath Smir to break the scoreless tie.
The Demon Deacons took the lead into halftime, but the Tar Heels were awarded a free kick just two minutes after the break when Jelani Pieters was taken down one yard out of the box. Cam Lindley took advantage of the opportunity, firing a laser into the top right corner of the net to tie the game at one a piece for his sixth goal of the year.
In the 66th minute, Wake Forest's Logan Gdula lobbed a ball across the field to Ema Twumasi who was sprinting down the left side. Twumasi crossed the ball into the box where Jon Bakero laid the ball into the net to give the Demon Deacons the 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.
Carolina had several chances in the closing minutes, but could not find the right touch to get the ball in the net.
The Tar Heels will travel to No. 7 Louisville for their second-straight top-10 matchup on Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Omir Fernandez (2)
Assisted By: Bruno Lapa
Pass off to the right of the box, kicked
38:42
Cam Lindley (6)
Shot off free kick, yard out of the box
46:36
Jon Bakero (7)
Assisted By: Ema Twumasi , Logan Gdula
Cross into the box, Bakero scores on kic
65:14
