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WFU soccer team rolls past Virginia Tech 8-2
Opara scores two goals in first half to spark Deacons
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Published: October 5, 2008
Wake Forest's 8-2 win over Virginia Tech last night in a men's soccer match at Spry Stadium was a far cry from the teams' last meeting.
The Deacons and Hokies squared off last Dec. 14 in an NCAA College Cup semifinal match in Cary, with Wake Forest winning 2-0.
And while Hokies fans might have been excited for a rematch with the No. 1-ranked Deacons, last night's game was a total mismatch.
Two first-half goals from Ike Opara and a solo score from Austin da Luz staked Wake Forest to a 3-0 lead and Wake Forest coasted the rest of the match.
"It was a strange game," Coach Jay Vidovich of the Deacons said.
The eight goals were the most that Wake Forest have ever scored in an ACC match and tied its output in an 8-0 win over N.C. State in the 1997 ACC Tournament.
The Deacons (10-0-0, 3-0-0 ACC) came into the match averaging slightly over three goals per match -- the highest in the nation -- and it took them just 25 minutes to equal that mark.
Da Luz opened the scoring in the fourth minute to put Virginia Tech in a hole and then Opara, a sophomore defender, scored his goals three minutes apart midway through the half.
"I don't usually get much chance to run in the attack, and I just hope I can keep it up," Opara said.
"The coach set a goal for me of seven goals the beginning of the year and, hopefully, I'll get that and more."
Opara has four goals this season and three in the past three matches.
"Usually you come out and expect highly competitive games in the ACC and this game was interesting," Opara said.
Wake Forest now has a 15-match winning streak, as well as a 27-match (25-0-2) home unbeaten streak. Both are team records.
The Hokies fell to 3-6-1 overall. Their 0-4-0 ACC record is its worst since joining the conference in 2004.
"The (final) score was definitely correct," Coach Oliver Weiss of the Hokies said.
"They were six goals better than us, and they were the best team we've played in a long time.
"They deserved it and they showed us how to play. They could have even scored a couple more."
Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald had to wait until the 66th minute to make his only save in the match.
The final stats told the tale, as Wake Forest held a 25-6 shot advantage with keepers Stefan Caulfield and Thomas St. Germain of Virginia Tech making 10 saves each.
Corben Bone connected with a penalty kick in the 70th minute and Marcus Tracy, with his team-leading eighth goal, two minutes later, gave the Deacons a 5-0 lead.
The Hokies got late consolation goals from James Gilson, on a penalty spot, and Emmanuel Akogyeram, but Cody Arnoux of the Deacons scored three goals in the final 14 minutes.
Notes: Wake Forest moved into a tie for first place in the conference with Virginia. The Cavaliers improved to 3-0-0 in ACC play with a 1-0 win over North Carolina on Friday night. Wake Forest is scheduled to play at Virginia on November 7 in the regular-season finale for both teams.... The Deacons lead the all-time series with the Hokies 11-2-2. Wake Forest has either won or tied its last nine games against Virginia Tech.... Wake Forest's next game will be at Spry Stadium against Massachusetts on Tuesday night. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Deacons will return to conference play next Saturday night on the road against N.C. State.
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