Soccer Notebook: Keeper Fitzgerald says Deacs play extremely well as a team

By: JournalNow Staff | COMPILED BY JOHN DELL
Published: December 11, 2009

■ Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald said it's difficult to compare this season's Wake Forest team to last season's.

"Obviously last year's team was very special with the talent we had," Fitzgerald said. "But I think this team, everybody plays for each other, and that's big. Last year's team was the same way, but we have all made a difference in each practice this season."

The Deacons finished 21-2-1 last season but lost eight starters.

"I think obviously when you lose players like Sam Cronin, Marcus Tracy and Mike Lahoud, talent-wise last year's team might have been better. But we always talk about maybe not being the most talented team, but we talk about being the best team."

■ Strong defense has played a vital role for Virginia, but Coach George Gelnovatch also stands up for his offense.

"You can't just be a great defensive team and be (in the College Cup)," he said. "You have to be able to score, and we've shown we can do that."

Virginia has defeated Wake Forest twice this season, but Gelnovatch said he doesn't think that's an advantage.

"You could probably flip a coin 50 times, and it would be about the same," he said. "I think it will be very close, but I don't think the last two meetings will mean much in this game."

■ Although some Wake Forest fans might not want to see Virginia in the postseason, defender Ike Opara welcomes the challenge.

"I did want to see them again," he said. "I think a good way to get back at them would be in the final four."

■ Justin Lichtfuss is one of six Wake Forest seniors who has been part of four straight College Cup teams, and he said that the experience never gets old.

"I think just the showcase of the College Cup is what makes it so exciting," he said. "This tournament especially has the four best teams in the country."

■ Coach Caleb Porter of Akron said that his team set a goal in the preseason to win the national championship.

"We believe in what we can do," Porter said. "The ACC has earned the right to be called the best conference. At the same time, we have earned our right to be here." We won't take the field scared but we will take the field with respect."

■ Akron, the tournament's No. 1 seed and North Carolina's opponent in the second semifinal, will be playing its second ACC opponent of the season. The Zips won 2-0 at Virginia Tech on Oct. 13.

The Zips are in the final four for the second time. Their first appearance was in 1986, when they defeated Fresno State 1-0 in the semifinal then lost 1-0 to Duke in the final.

■ UNC has three Cary natives on its roster -- keeper Brooks Haggerty, defender Drew McKinney and forward Martin Murphy.