Tribe Men’s Soccer Travels to Face #3 Wake Forest on Tuesday

Game will be rematch of NCAA Second Round from 2008

08/31/09 10:19AM

WILLIAMSBURG - The William and Mary men’s soccer team will head to Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Tuesday to take on #3 Wake Forest in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament second round battle. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m.

In that match last season, the College took the #1-ranked and defending national champions to the wire, eventually losing to WF in overtime, 1-0. Wake would go on to make the College Cup before losing to North Carolina, 1-0, in the national semifinals.

In the match against the Demon Deacons, the Tribe played well in hostile conditions. Despite playing in front of its own fans, Wake Forest couldn’t muster a score against the College and goalkeeper Andrew McAdams in regulation. WF did out-shoot the College in the match, 22-6, but only held a 5-3 lead in attempts on frame.

Scouting the Tribe
William and Mary (0-0) comes into the rematch with Wake Forest fresh off a 0-0 tie with Liberty this past Thursday in an exhibition match. The Tribe’s defense was the story in the preseason for the College, as the College allowed only one goal in two matches. McAdams and sophomore Colin Smolinsky have been solid between the posts, with McAdams collecting four saves and Smolinsky saving a pair.

Junior Nat Baako tallied the lone goal in the preseason for the Tribe when he tallied the game-tying score against Virginia Tech. Baako, who was named First-Team All-CAA last season, will look to build off his breakout sophomore campaign from a year ago.

Last season, the College finished with a record of 11-7-3, its best mark since the 2002 season. W&M also made to the NCAA Tournament field for the first time in six seasons and advanced to the second round for the eighth time. The College also led the CAA and tied a school record with five all-league selections.

Scouting the Demon Deacons
Wake Forest (0-0) enters the match against the Tribe off a 3-0 victory over Furman in an exhibition match. The Demon Deacons went undefeated in their two preseason matches, beating Liberty, 2-0, on August 22.

Last season Wake Forest went 21-2-1, including a 7-0-1 slate in the ACC. The Demon Deacons would finish the season ranked second nationally. WF will have many new faces this time when they face the Tribe on the pitch, as the Demon Deacons lost seven starters from last year’s squad. To counteract the loss of so many key players, WF hit the recruiting trail, securing the fifth-best class in the nation in 2009 according to CollegeSoccerNews.com.

In a preseason poll conducted by the coaches of the ACC, Wake Forest was picked to finish fourth in the conference behind favorite North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.

Junior Corben Bone leads the Demon Deacons, returning as WF’s top point producer from last season. Bone had seven goals and 17 assists last year. Senior Zack Schilawski returns as the Demon Deacons’ top goal scorer from last year when he tallied 11 goals.

The Series
Wake Forest hold the advantage in the series against the Tribe, winning all four matches the two teams have played. The Demon Deacons have never faced the Tribe at Albert-Daly Field, however, winning three of those games at home and one on a neutral field.

Tribe News and Notes
- Senior Roger Bothe, senior Andrew Hoxie, and junior Nat Baako were all named to the 2009 All-CAA Preseason team.

Hoxie, a Second-Team All-CAA honoree in 2006 and 2008, earns preseason honors this season after leading the conference in goals last year despite only playing in 15 matches. Hoxie was an offensive force for the College last season, also earning All-South Atlantic Region Third-Team recognition.

Bothe makes the preseason all-conference team following a junior campaign that saw him get named to the All-CAA Third Team after scoring a goal and dishing out four assists.

Rounding out the Green and Gold’s preseason honorees is Baako, who enjoyed a breakout season in 2008. Baako, who earned First-Team All-CAA and Second-Team All-South Atlantic Region honors a year ago, looks to improve on the six goals and six assists he notched last season.

- In a preseason poll conducted by the head coaches of the Colonial Athletic Association, William and Mary was picked to finish third. The Tribe received 94 points, including a first place vote, to finish just 27 points behind preseason favorite George Mason and six points behind second-place Old Dominion.

CAA Preseason Poll (First Place Votes)
1. George Mason (11) 121
2. Old Dominion 100
3. W&M (1) 94
4. UNC Wilmington 86
5. Northeastern 75
6. Towson 68
7. VCU 67
8. Hofstra 60
9. James Madison 43
10. Drexel 39
11. Georgia State 22
12. Delaware 17

- The Tribe’s first match at Albert-Daly Field will be on Wednesday, September 23 at 7 p.m. against Richmond, which is the latest date for the Tribe’s home opener since 1978.