Deacons' Lubahn, Arena stepping right up: Freshmen key to Wake Forest title hopes

Credit: Journal Photo by Lauren Carroll

Andy Lubahn (blue cleats) shares the Wake Forest record with 10 goals as a freshman.

By: By John Dell | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: December 09, 2009

Andy Lubahn's cleats stand out in a crowd.

The fact that they're blue makes all the difference.

Lubahn, a freshman on the men's soccer team at Wake Forest, received the Nike cleats before the ACC Tournament and liked them so well he kept them, despite their non-traditional color.

"We call them the Blue Bombers," fellow freshman Anthony Arena said.

Senior Austin da Luz said that the shoes are a cross between Duke blue and North Carolina blue but adds, "as long as he keeps scoring goals, I'm not going to say anything."

And score he has.

Lubahn has 10 goals this season, good enough to give him a share of the school record for goals by a freshman. His offense, combined with stellar play on defense by Arena, are just two of the reasons Wake Forest is back in the College Cup for the fourth straight season and preparing for Friday's national semifinal against Virginia (5 p.m., ESPN2 Ch. 32, ESPNU Ch. 143).

Lubahn and Arena will be the only freshmen in the Deacons' starting lineup, but they said they won't be intimidated by the enormity of the College Cup, possibly because they haven't had much time to think about it. They have been more focused on going through exam week for the first time.

"Definitely this week, and really the whole semester, it's a huge transition from high school," said Arena, who has scored three winning goals, all off corner kicks. "Having soccer with school and the work, you just have to get your schoolwork done early, and with the final four and exams the same week, time management is key."

Lubahn came to Wake Forest from Erie, Pa., as one of Coach Jay Vidovich's most decorated recruits, after seeing time with the U-14, U-15, U-18 and U-20 U.S. National teams and serving as captain of the Columbus Crew's U-17 team.

He stepped into the starting lineup early and helped ease the loss of Cody Arnoux, who led the Deacons last season with 17 goals and 42 points, then left school early to turn pro.

"Cody's a great player, and he did so much for this program, but I think for me just learning from Z-Man (Zack Schilawski) about what we want to accomplish has helped a lot," Lubahn said.

Lubahn scored three goals in the ACC Tournament but was held without a shot in the semifinals, a shootout loss to Virginia.

"He hasn't proven that those shoes have been effective against Virginia yet," Vidovich said. "If it wasn't for the blue shoes in the Virginia game in the ACC Tournament, you wouldn't have known he was on the field, but I'm OK with the shoes."

Arena is from Kenmore, Wash., and an athletic family. His father, Chris, played football at UNLV and his grandfather played football at Notre Dame. He said that his development has been helped by the leadership of junior Ike Opara, one of the nation's top college players.

When Opara was a freshman, Julian Valentin helped him adjust to college soccer. Opara is now returning the favor.

"On defense, we've just jelled as the season has gone on," Arena said. "It didn't help us much when Ike was out playing for the (U-23) national team, but I think we grew up a little, and then when he came back, we were just that much stronger.

"Ike's leadership really helped us, and I think that's why we've given up fewer goals here late in the season."

Opara said that Arena and Lubahn, along with freshman reserves Ben Newnam, Sean Randolph and Nick Millington, have played key roles.

"I think we've been successful because the freshmen have come in and helped us," Opara said. "They've come in and done a great job physically and mentally, and they fit the profile for Wake Forest soccer."

jdell@wsjournal.com.

727-4081