Sports > September 20, 2007

By Matt Six | Staff writer

The No. 1 Wake Forest men’s soccer team finished strong in a 1-0 victory over Louisville Sept. 15. The only goal of the cool evening came from Marcus Tracy, a junior forward from Sandyhook, Conn. The goal came off a well-placed corner-kick from sophomore Austin da Luz.

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The win improves the Demon Deacons to 5-0-0 for the season. The Cardinals drop to 3-2-0.

Both teams got off to slow starts in the first half, with many offside calls halting potential drives. Wake controlled the time of possession throughout the duration of the match.

The Deacon’s defense, led by freshman Ike Opara and redshirt sophomore Justin Lichfuss made key stops to deter the Cardinals.

Louisville’s defense clogged the middle of the field and held Wake to only two shots in the first half.

Wake was off to a fast start in the second half with two quick shot attempts. Junior Mike Lahoud nearly capped off his birthday with a goal in the 68th minute, but his shot went just wide of the net.

Fans banged their feet on the bleachers as freshman Corben Bone prepared for a corner kick. His kick was on goal, but was headed out by a Louisville player. The subsequent corner-kick was taken on the near right corner by da Luz. Da Luz curved the ball on goal, and Tracy leaped up to head the ball into the net. Tracy can give Wake basketball’s sophmore L.D. Williams a run for his money in a leaping contest.

“On corners we really just have to get the ball in the mix especially when we have guys like Marcus who can jump through the roof,” da Luz said.

“You just have to give the guys in the box a chance and Marcus finished it well.”

Redshirt senior goalkeeper Brian Edwards kept Wake’s 1-0 lead intact with a key save with two minutes remaining. Wake Forest ended the game with nine shots to Louisville’s six.

Wake’s defense, led by Edwards and Opara, has held its seven opponents to a total of only three goals.

The men’s soccer team heads to Clemson Sept. 21. They return home to take on No. 7 Maryland Sept. 29.