Sports > October 30, 2008

By Connor Swarbrick | Sports editor

It was a night to recognize the eight members of the winningest senior class in the history of the men’s soccer program. On a night to honor their contributions, the last regular season home game of the season, the seniors just kept giving back.

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Sophomore defender Ike Opara wins a ball in the Deacons’ Oct. 25 5-2 victory over No. 19-ranked Boston College on senior night. The Deacs have two away games remaining before the beginning of the ACC tournament. (Kelly Makepeace/Old Gold & Black)

Seniors Sam Cronin, Jamie Franks and Marcus Tracy all found the back of the net in the 5-2 disposal of the No. 19 Boston College Eagles. Senior Michael Lahoud added an assist.

There were 3,979 fans on hand at Spry Stadium Oct. 25 to honor the senior class who has a career mark of 68-13-9, a national championship and the current 31-game home unbeaten streak (the fourth longest in NCAA history) to show for their four years.

It may have been the seniors’ night, but it was sophomore Corben Bone who stood out. He tallied a goal and three assists.

The assists give him 15 on the season, which is the school record. Bone broke junior teammate Austin da Luz’s last season mark of 13. The performance earned Bone National Team of the Week honors by College Soccer News.

Bone also received National Team of the Week honors from Soccer America and Top Drawer Soccer.

The Deacs once again controlled the game on the offensive end, outshooting the Eagles by a mark of 17-8. They also held a slim advantage in shots on goal, 8-6.

Four minutes into the match, the Deacons seized the lead when junior Cody Arnoux scored his team leading 12th goal of the season. Bone and Lahoud were credited with assists on the goal.

The Deacs extended their lead to 2-0 when Cronin fired a shot from 26 yards out that curled into the back of the net at the 24:27 mark. The Eagles goalie had no chance.

In the 37th minute Wake Forest’s lead became 3-0. Junior Zack Schilawski was one-on-one with the goalie but played the ball to a charging Bone, who netted it from 15 yards out.

Boston College cut into the Deacons’ lead just before the half. In the 41st minute Alejandro Bedoya curled a ball past junior Akira Fitzgerald to make the score 3-1.

After the half Wake Forest quickly pushed their lead back to three.

Just 53 seconds into the half, Franks found the back of the net from 11 yards out, beating the Eagles keeper in the upper right hand corner. Both Arnoux and Bone were credited with assists on the play.

Boston College made the score 4-2 in the 54th minute when Shawn Chin beat Fitzgerald and the Deacon defense.

In the 68th minute Schilawski fired a shot on goal, but it was deflected by the Eagles keeper. Tracy used his head to close out scoring and give the Deacons a 5-2 victory. It was Tracy’s 11th goal of the year.

Fitzgerald made four saves in the victory.

With two ACC games remaining on the road, the Deacons hold a commanding four point lead over Virginia and Maryland.

The Deacs will travel to play ACC rival the UNC-Chapel Hill Tar Heels Nov. 1. To close out the regular season, the Deacs will play at Virginia Nov. 7.

Fans can now vote via text message for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS award.

To vote for Cronin, text the code S2 to 839863. Text voting for the award will continue until Nov. 19. After 10 days Cronin is in third palce behind A.J. Glubzinski of the U.S. Military Academy and Dylan Curtis of U.C. Davis.