Wake Forest Suffers First Defeat at ACC Tourney

Well it took almost the entire year. Twenty games. Ranked #1 in the nation in every poll all year. The defending national champion Wake Forest mens soccer team were finally beaten as they fell at the ACC Tournament to Virginia 3-2.

After a scoreless first half the game really sprang to life in the 2nd half.  Wake Forest took a 1-0 lead when Marcus Tracy scored in the 53rd minute from just inside the 18 that lifted the Deacons to a 1-0 lead. Corben Bone picked up his 16th assist of the season on the play, extending his record for most assists in a single season at Wake Forest.   Virginia would respond almost immediately though when Jonathan Villanueva scored with an assist from Brian Ownby.

The Cavaliers scored what looked to be the winned with only 8 minutes to play as Chase Neinken finished a cross, heading the ball in past Fitzgerald to the delight of the Virginia fans.  Wake would not go down quietly though.  A mad scramble inside the Virginia box led to a tying goal with only a minute to play.  Danny Wenzel was the scorer.  With only 18 seconds to play Wake Forest looked to have won it, but the goal was ruled offside.

The decisive moment would come with only 4 minutes to play in the 2nd overtime.  Brian Ownby got loose in the Wake penalty area and was dragged down leading to a penalty kick.  Matt Poole calmly put the ball away and Virginia had its upset.