WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University men's soccer team fell against #20 ranked Wake Forest University on Tuesday evening by a final score of 4-0. The match kicked off following an hour and 25-minute lightning delay.
"I thought in the first half we were very, very good.", said coach Wells. "Obviously, Pat makes a huge save and if we take our two key chances it's probably 2-2 at halftime. Everyone can say that, but for me I thought we were in the game. We were competitive and I was very pleased with that. We were very careless with things we are usually good at, which shows the quality of Wake Forest and they got that out of us. But ultimately for a year one program, I really do think we've got some positives to take out of that. It definitely was not a 4-0 game however, Wake was consistent in their performance where as we kind of died off there after 60 minutes and that's what did it. Wake Forest is a fantastic program and that is exactly why I wanted to play to play this team. Because it sets the bar for the rest of the season and really shows what the standard is."
Wake Forest's Jahlane Forbes opened the scoring on a through ball in the 13
th minute.
Pablo Brimeux and
Santiago Hoyos were able to generate a pair of quick shots on goal for the Runnin' Bulldogs that were saved by Wake Forest's Trace Alphin. Roald Mitchell added a second for the Demon Deacons in the 47
th mintute. Wake Forest added a pair of scores in the final 10 minutes of from Leo Guarino in the 83
rd minute, and Jake Swallen in the 86
th minute on a penalty shot. Junior goalkeeper
Pat Millard blocked one of two penalty shots in the match. This was the second team ranked in the top-20 GWU faced in matches one week apart.
"I'm really, really proud of my guys.", coach Wells added. "I love their reaction at the end of the game. They're not accepting of the performance. They are not accepting of the defeat and that kind of shows where our culture is headed. I think it's important for us to understand that its really easy to speak to people when you're winning games. When you are losing games and going through adversity, that is what really separates us is how we react. We are really happy about that. We think these games have set us up nicely to play Furman, and for me we will get right back to it tomorrow with our process and video analysis."
The next match for the Runnin' Bulldogs is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6:00 p.m. at Furman University.
