Sports > October 18, 2007

By Andrew LeRay | Staff writer

Wake Forest continued its scorching hot play this week with shutout victories over N.C. State Oct. 13 and UNC-Greensboro Oct. 16.

The top ranked Deacons have won three straight matches by a combined score of 17-0.

Wake improved its conference record to 3-0-1 with its second straight shutout victory on Oct. 13. The Deacs scored early and often in the 4-0 win over N.C. State at Spry Stadium.

“We have been focusing a lot on the little things in practice,” said sophomore forward/midfielder Zach Schilawski. “We have been working on making better passes and finishing our shots.”

Schilawski scored his first of two goals in the 16th minute, giving the Deacs the early lead.

Six minutes later, freshman midfielder Corben Bone assisted Schilawski on his second goal of the night and fourth of the season.

Sophomore forward Cody Arnoux scored his seventh goal of the year later in the match, increasing the lead to three.

Arnoux also had two assists in the game, making him the teams leader in points.

The fourth and final goal of the game was struck by sophomore midfielder Will Clayton. It was Clayton’s first career goal, which came in the 78th minute of the match. The game proved to be extremely aggressive and physical, as a total of six yellow cards were issued in the match. N.C. State received four of the yellow cards, while the Deacs drew two.

Wolfpack junior defender Stanley Mathurin received two yellow cards in the game, forcing N.C. State to play a man down in the second half.

Wake continued its strong play Oct. 16 in Greensboro with an 8-0 trouncing of the Spartans. The loss was UNC-Greensboro’s worst in 30 years, when they fell to UNC-Wilmington 10-0.

“Regardless of competition, we need to play our hardest,” Schilawski said. “We try to get better to beat everyone else, not just ACC teams.”

Clearly, the rest of the Deacons had the same attitude as Schilawski, completely dominating both sides of the ball. Deacon goals were scored by Arnoux, junior midfielder Lyle Adams, junior midfielder Michael Lahoud, junior forward Marcus Tracy, senior forward Alimer Gonzalez and junior midfielder Jamie Franks.

Lahoud and Arnoux scored two goals each, and Arnoux added an assist, giving him 23 points on the year.

Sophomore defender Patrick Phelan and sophomore midfielder Austin da Luz each recorded two assists in the match. Wake found the net five times in the first half, including three goals in the first 15 minutes.

The goals by Adams, Lahoud, Franks and Gonzales were their first of the season, and for Gonzales, it was the first of his collegiate career.

The Deacons will play the second game of a four-match road trip Oct. 19 against No. 8 Duke in Durham, N.C.