No. 1 Wake Forest Downs NC State 4-1 in ACC Quarterfinals
Deacs score four unanswered goals to pick up win

Nov. 12, 2008

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CARY, N.C. - No. 1 Wake Forest (18-0-1, 7-0-1 ACC) scored four unanswered goals to register a 4-1 come-from-behind win over eighth seed NC State (9-9-1, 3-5-0 ACC) on Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the 2008 ACC Men's Soccer Tournament, held at Koka Booth Stadium.

"We're very excited to be alive and be able to play another match on Friday," head coach Jay Vidovich said. "We were proud of the team to come back from down a goal. We were playing against a very much improved NC State. They executed their game plan to get a result against us. We were very fortunate to come from a goal down and get some very good goals."

With the win, the Demon Deacons advance to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament, scheduled for Friday night at 8 p.m. Wake will face the winner of the Duke/Virginia quarterfinal.

Wake Forest improves to 13-18-8 all-time in the conference tournament, including a 6-6-3 mark in the quarterfinal round. The Deacs have won their quarterfinal match each of the last five seasons.

The Deacs held a commanding shot advantage, out-shooting the Wolfpack 21-10, including a 6-2 shots on goal advantage. Wake had four corner kicks, compared to two for NC State.

NC State struck first, scoring in the 13th minute on the 14th goal of the season by Ronnie Bouemboue. Bouemboue beat a pair of Wake Forest defenders and fired a shot from the right side of the 18-yard box that snuck inside the left post to give NC State a 1-0 lead.

Wake Forest answered quickly, equalizing the game in the 23rd minute. Arnoux played a pass to Jamie Franks on the left side of the box. Franks took a shot from 15 yards out that found the back of the net for his second goal of the season.

The Deacons took their first lead of the game in the 40th minute as Evan Brown scored for the second time on the season. The ball deflected out to the edge of the 18-yard box. Brown sent a rocket shot into the upper right hand part of the net to give Wake a 2-1 advantage.

The Wolfpack had a good chance to tie the game in the last minute of the first half. Alan Sanchez had a free kick from 20 yards out on the left side of the field that just sailed high of the net.

Wake Forest added an insurance goal in the 67th minute as Sam Cronin scored on a penalty kick. Arnoux was fouled in the box by NC State's Lucas Carpenter setting up Cronin's third penalty kick opportunity of the season. Cronin guided the ball inside the right post for his eighth goal of the season, giving Wake Forest a 3-1 edge.

The Deacs scored their final goal of the night in the 70th minute. Michael Lahoud played a pass to Lyle Adams near the endline on the left side of the field. Adams crossed the ball to Corben Bone, who scored from 11 yards out to give Wake Forest a 4-1 lead.

Akira Fitzgerald made one save in goal for Wake Forest to pick up his 18th win of the season. Christopher Widman made two saves for the Wolfpack.

Fans can follow all the action from the ACC Tournament by visiting the tournament webpage at http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-soccer/08-msoc-championship.html.