Sports > November 1, 2007

By Andrew LeRay | Staff writer

Leave it to Boston College to hand the previously undefeated Deacons their first loss of the season. No. 1 Wake Forest’s 15-game unbeaten streak came to an end Oct. 27 with a 1-0 loss to the No. 12 Boston College Eagles. With the loss, Wake Forest fell to 12-1-2 on the season and 4-1-1 in conference play. The Deacs find themselves five points behind ACC leader Boston College and only three points ahead of Duke and Virginia Tech.

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Redshirt sophomore defender Justin Lichtfuss clears the ball during the Deacons’ first lost of the season against Boston College. (Roger Kirkpatrick/Old Gold & Black)

“We are disappointed with the loss, but this week we need to get back to training hard,” said senior co-captain Julian Valentin.

The game-winning goal was scored in the 21st minute by junior Alejandro Bedoya, who attempted seven shots in the game.

It was the first goal against the Deacs since they surrendered three during an Oct. 5 match at Virginia Tech.

“They didn’t do anything surprising,” Valentin said.

“At the end of the day, we weren’t good enough.”

Wake Forest goalkeeper, redshirt senior Brian Edwards, made six saves against the Eagles, the most he has had in any single game this season.

The Deacs out shot the Eagles 9-7 in the first half but managed only three shots against a tough Boston College defense in the second half.

The Eagle defensive attack frustrated the Deacons all night, and perhaps the two best scoring opportunities for Wake Forest came off two free kicks.

Following a Boston College foul in the 14th minute, senior defender Patrick Phelan blasted the free kick from 21 yards out, but the ball sailed above the crossbar.

Phelan also took the second free kick with 10 seconds remaining in the game, but that kick was also too tall.

“The undefeated season was not important to us,” Valentin said.

“We are just worrying about getting better, and we know there will be setbacks. In this day and age in college soccer, an undefeated season is pretty unrealistic.”

The loss eliminates Wake Forest’s hopes of repeating their ACC regular season championship, which they won last season. The Deacons return home after a four game road trip to face UNC-Chapel Hill Nov. 3 at Spry Stadium.Wake Forest will then finish up the season with home games against Davidson and Virginia Nov. 6 and 9.