Sports > September 27, 2007

By Connor Swarbick | Contributing writer

The No. 1 Deacons moved to 6-0-0 on the season with a 1-0 victory at Clemson in their Sept. 12 ACC opener. Clemson dropped to 3-4-1 on the season and 0-1-0 in the ACC.

The six wins ties the 1984 school record for consecutive victories to start a season. Head Coach Jay Vidovich is pleased with his team’s performance thus far.

“Each week the boys are getting stronger as a team and in their individual performance as well as their collective performance,” Vidovich said.

Sophomore Cody Arnoux scored the winning goal in the first ACC start of his career.

The goal came in the 34th minute.

Freshman midfielder Corben Bone and junior forward Marcus Tracy assisted Arnoux’s goal.

“Corben did a great job of getting the ball to Marcus. Marcus did all the work and I was just in the right place at the right time and stuck it,” Arnoux said.

Tracy led the Deacon assault.

Along with the assist, he took six shots, two of which were turned back by the Tigers’ goalkeeper.

The 1-0 victory also meant another shutout for redshirt senior Brian Edwards.

It is his third on the season and the 34th of his college career, making him the school’s record holder in that category.

The team’s lofty ranking and early success does not come as a surprise to Vidovich.

The Deacons went to their first College Cup last season and have high expectations again. But, Vidovich’s goals for the team are more simple than that.

“Our goal is to get better every day and get ourselves in a situation to win a couple trophies,” Vidovich said.In Vidovich’s mind, the No. 1 ranking is irrelevant.

“It may sound like a cliché, but we aren’t really worried about our ranking,” Vidovich said.

“We know that that isn’t going to win us a championship trophy. We have a long-term picture of our goals.”

Arnoux won the ACC Player of the Week award for his game-winning goal.

It was only his third career start, but it was his second game-winning goal this season. Arnoux, who shared the award with Boston College junior Alejandro Bedoya, is tied for second among ACC players in goals scored with four.

Arnoux said he is pleased with his accomplishment, but is focused on what’s ahead for the Deacons.

“It’s a great honor; a lot of great players have gotten it and I hope the awards keep coming,” Arnoux said.

“But, this season is going to take a lot of hard work. I expect us to do well in the ACC and keep getting better everyday.” Vidovich was complementary of Arnoux’s performance.“Cody is a go getter.” He said “He is a lot of fun to have around.”

“He works hard and he keeps getting better all the time.”

The Deacons will face the No. 18 Maryland Terrapins 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at Spry stadium.

The team has invited all of the local media members and their families to come enjoy the game and a complimentary dinner.

They will continue to try to improve and go the extra mile so that they can make the 100-mile drive to Cary, N.C. in December for the 2007 College Cup.