Sports > September 13, 2007

By Jimmy McQuilkin | Staff writer

The No. 1 Demon Deacons captured the Wake Forest University tournament title this weekend, defeating No. 16 Akron 3-1 and Bradley 3-0 on their way to a tournament victory for the second weekend in a row.

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Senior defender Pat Phelan attempts to head off an opponent. (Mary Kate Warner/Old Gold & Black)

Four Deacs were named to the all-tournament team for their play over the weekend — freshman midfielder Corben Bone, sophomore midfielder Sam Cronin, redshirt sophomore defender Justin Lichtfuss and junior defender Michael Lahoud.

In the final game of the tournament Sept. 9, the Bradley Braves held the Deacons scoreless for the first half before surrendering three second-half goals to the top-ranked Deacs.

The Braves’ staunch defense held strong in the first half, limiting the Deacs to only one shot on goal in nine attempts.

“They definitely played to kill the game,” Head Coach Jay Vidovich said. “They had two sweepers in the back, which made their defense difficult to break down.”

In the second half, though, the Deacons’ strength began to show. Sophomore defender Nick Courtney tallied his first goal of the season in the 66th minute off a pass from Lahoud. Junior forward Marcus Tracy found the net with a goal in the 74th minute, and Bone followed one minute later with the Deacs’ final goal of the game.

Friday night’s contest with Akron marked the Deacons’ first Top-20 matchup of the season. Despite falling behind in only the second minute, the Deacs rallied to a 3-1 victory in the season’s home opener against Akron.

Without two of their regular starters, the Deacs started off slowly, surrendering a goal to Ben Zemanski of the Zips in the game’s second minute.

The Deacons responded quickly with freshman Bone scoring back-to-back goals.

In the 73rd minute, Arnoux put the game out of the Zips’ reach when he scored off of Bone’s corner kick.

In the victory, the Deacons displayed their ability to respond to injuries. With regular starters seniors Pat Phelan and Julian Valentin out with minor injuries, Lichtfuss and freshman defender Ike Opara started the game and performed well.

When Lichtfuss and Opara left the game due to injuries of their own, the Deacons again responded with help from teammates.

Other players, like Lahoud, showed their versatility by seamlessly filling the holes left by injury.

The Deacons will return to action Sept. 15, when they take on Louisville in Spry Stadium.