Virginia Beats Wake Forest, 2-0, in NCAA Second Round

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Nov. 26, 2003

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Winston-Salem, N.C. – The third-seeded Wake Forest men’s soccer team lost 2-0 to Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday night at Spry Stadium. It was the first and only loss of the season at home for the Demon Deacons.

The win for the Cavaliers was the second in 12 days against the Deacons. Wake Forest ends its 2003 season with a 15-5 record and three of the five defeats came at the hands of Virginia. The Cavaliers advance to the third round to play either San Diego or Creighton.

The Deacons came out in control of the match. The first 30 minutes were played largely in the Virginia one-third. Wake Forest nearly took the lead less than two minutes into the game when Steven Curfman’s free kick from 30 yards beat the goalkeeper but skimmed the crossbar.

The Demon Deacons did not allow Virginia a shot until the 43rd minute but the Cavaliers took full advantage. Adam Cristman came charging up the right touchline on a counter-attack, cut left to beat the defender and across the top of the penalty area. He let go a left-footed shot from 18 yards away and beat Wake Forest goalkeeper Brad McEachern to the far post. It was Cristman’s seventh goal of the year.

Despite a 5-1 advantage in shots, the Deacons found themselves trailing 1-0 at halftime.

In the second half, Virginia padded its lead in the 66th minute on a goal from Mike Littlefield. Again, it was Christman who beat Wake Forest down the right flank. His cross into the penalty area was headed in by Littlefield, his fourth of the season.

Wake Forest was unlucky again in the 82nd minute when Adam Hakes headed the ball down to beat the keeper. It seemed destined for the net but the ball bounced up off the crossbar and was cleared out of play by a Virginia defender.

The Deacons pressured for the full 90 minutes but their persistence never paid off as Virginia freshman goalkeeper Ryan Burke made three saves to record his second straight shutout in the NCAA Tournament and his second straight shutout of Wake Forest.

The loss ends Wake Forest’s season at 15-5. The team tied a school record for wins in a single season and set a new record for consecutive home wins at 10.

The loss also ends the careers for eight outstanding seniors including midfielder Vicente Bastidas (Catasauqua, Pa.), midfielder Gideon Coronel (Amsterdam, The Netherlands), forward Adam Hakes (Phoenix, Ariz.), goalkeeper William Hesmer (Wilson, N.C.), defender Kelvin Jones (Fredericksburg, Va.), goalkeeper Brad McEachern (Arcadia, Calif.), defender Wiggy Saunders (Columbus, Neb.) and forward Jeremiah White (Lansdowne, Pa.). As a class, they recorded a combined five-year record of 66-22-13.

                1 2 - FVirginia        1 1 - 2#3 Wake Forest  0 0 - 0

42:37 UVA Adam Cristman (7) (Unassisted)
65:45 UVA Mike Littlefield (Adam Cristman)

Shots: Wake Forest 11, Virginia 4
Saves: Wake Forest 1 (McEachern), Virginia 3 (Burke)
Corners: Wake Forest 4, Virginia 2
Fouls: Wake Forest 15, Virginia 17
Offsides: Wake Forest 1, Virginia 6
Attendance: 3521