The cutting room: Women’s soccer defeats Clemson 4-0

Tony da Luz’s 200th career win received a lot of attention this weekend–and deservedly so.  But it was just one of several compelling storylines from this weekend’s women’s soccer game against Clemson. Here are some that didn’t quite make it into my story.

The stats don’t tell all

The ACC website doesn’t say so, but Aubrey Bledsoe earned yet another shutout for the Deacs Sunday. The 4-0 win would have given her sole possession of the conference lead in shutouts if backup goalkeeper Sarah Small hadn’t been put in during the 85th minute. But because she came up five minutes short, Bledsoe remains tied for the ACC lead with Florida State’s Kelsey Wys.

Protecting the fortress

The Demon Deacons have been one of the best defensive teams in the ACC this season, and they showed us why Sunday, allowing just two shots in the first half and holding Clemson scoreless for the game. On the year, Wake has allowed only 7 goals and has a 0.53 goals against average–both good enough for second-best in the conference behind No. 1 Florida State.

463 minutes

That’s how long it’s been since Wake last conceded a goal to Clemson. My, how the tables have turned. Although the Tigers lead the all-time series with Wake 12-8-3, the Demon Deacons have now won the last six matches between the two teams–and the five most recent games have all been shutouts.

200 wins later, da Luz and Deacons still hungry

By Kevin Tarsa

The motto of the Wake Forest women’s soccer team’s backline is “protect the fortress.” It’s what head coach Tony da Luz drills into his defenders’ heads from day one, as soon as they set foot on the Spry training complex’s pristine carpets of turf freshman year.

In the most basic sense, the fortress refers to the cage, and protecting it, says senior defender Alisha Woodson, means “keeping the ball away from the goal at all costs.”

It’s a mentality that makes the Demon Deacons one of the best defensive teams in the nation, and a strategy that the team employed masterfully Sunday afternoon against Clemson at Spry Stadium, handily repelling any offensive pressure the Tigers could muster and exploding to a 4-0 win.

With the win, the Demon Deacons (9-3-1) climb to fourth place in the ACC with a conference record of 3-2-0. The Tigers remain at the bottom of the league, falling to 5-6-2 (0-5-0 ACC).

As the players made their way to the locker rooms after the game, an icy pool of celebratory Gatorade nourished the lush Bermuda grass in front of the Wake Forest bench. The number ingrained in everyone’s mind wasn’t the 4-0 on the scoreboard, but rather 200.

For the 200^th time da Luz had led his team to victory, making him only the 10^th coach in school history to win 200 games at Wake Forest. The company he joins is elite. Head men’s soccer coach Jay Vidovich and head field hockey coach Jennifer Averill are the two other active coaches with over 200 wins.

But they both have something he doesn’t—a national championship.

“I like that we have been super consistent year to year,” said da Luz. “We’ve been in the NCAA Tournament every year since I’ve been here, so it’s just a consistency thing, and a culture that we have in our team,” he added.

When da Luz addressed the media following the game, he was gushing with pride. 200-110-29. 15 straights trips to the NCAA tournament. Two consecutive appearances in the ACC Championship. Quite a fortress has been constructed, indeed.

“We’ve had great players,” he said. “I’ve been really lucky to have great players and an unbelievable facility here to draw great players.”

Katie Stengel is one of these standout players.  Although only a junior, she’s already broken the school scoring record, and her offensive skill, which has prompted comparisons to USA soccer great Mia Hamm, wreaks havoc on opposing teams’ defenses.

Goalie Aubrey Bledsoe is another. If it weren’t for plays like the one she made in the 75^th minute, diving to her left to deny a penalty  kick by Clemson’s Maddy Elder, the Deacons wouldn’t have made it to the College Cup last year—and they know it.

“Aubrey just does that stuff all the time,” said da Luz. “It just gives the team so much confidence in our backline, just so much confidence to have her back there. You know that you’re in pretty good hands and you’re covered back there.”

And then there are the less salient contributors, like freshman forward Jenai Davidson, who in her first ever start this Sunday netted the first two goals of her career. All of these players mesh together to create a team that isn’t only prepared for success, but expects it.

“We were planning for this game, but we’re planning for the future,” said da Luz.

Many viewed last season’s appearance in College Cup as the culmination of da Luz’s efforts to bring his program to national prominence. Although last season’s run constructed a mantle, the fortress will remain unfinished until there is a national championship trophy to adorn it.

Finished or unfinished, the Demon Deacons will continue to protect it.

Lady Deacs prepared to unleash against Tigers

The Wake Forest Women’s soccer team isn’t just looking for a win this Sunday. They’re ready to torch Clemson’s net.

“We won’t slip up from now on,” said senior defender Alisha Woodson with piercing confidence in a pre-game press conference today with a group of Journalism students.

Wake enters the game 8-3-1 after knocking off No. 4 Boston College last Thursday before suffering a deflating 2-1 loss to Maryland on Sunday.

The setback against the Terrapins reminded the Deacons of the bullseye that has resided on their jerseys since the end of last year’s College Cup run.

“We maybe didn’t realize they were coming out to get us,” said Woodson of her team’s performance against Maryland.

The Deacons know Clemson has them locked in their crosshairs too—and they’re determined to keep it that way.

This week’s game will mark the first time this season Head Coach Tony da Luz has had his entire team suited up for action, as forwards Rachel Nuzzolese and India Winford are expected to return from injuries.

With star-player Katie Stengel also back in the mix, the Tigers (5-4-2) will have their paws full.

“Their defenders won’t be able to touch our offense, if they’re at their best,” said Woodson.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Spry Stadium.

Without Lubahn, Men’s Soccer plugs along

Ties certainly don’t match the feeling of exhilaration created by a win, but the veteran Wake Forest men’s soccer team accepts them with an unsatisfied calm. Some might call Wake’s 0-0-3 start in the ACC this season inauspicious–but at the end of the day, they’re undefeated in league play.

Expectations are always high in Winston-Salem, but they’re particularly lofty this season.

“There’s a buzz around the team that we can be special this year,” said Lubahn.

In his 18 seasons as Head Coach, Jay Vidovich has molded the smallest school in the Atlantic Coast Conference into a nationally recognized professional-soccer factory. Posting an exceptional 225-87-31 record during that span, an influx of top, young talent every August has become commonplace. This year, College Soccer News ranked Wake’s incoming recruiting class as the top in the nation.

But even with this incredible group of freshman, Lubahn says it’s this season’s senior class that truly distinguishes this year’s team from last year’s.

“I think the past few years we struggled without a ‘legitimate’ senior class, and this year I think the leadership group has done a good job.”

With an overall record of 4-1-3, the Deacons currently hold the #16 spot in the national polls. They’ll return to action this Tuesday against Appalachian State, but for Andy, it’ll be another game on the sidelines.

It’s a frustrating fate, but one he’ll have to get used to. Doctors are projecting 8 more weeks before he can begin training with the team again. He just started hyrdrotherapy this week, or as he described it to me, “a fast underwater treadmill that uses jets to aid in resist training.”

In regard to his knee, “it’s still pretty painful, but it’s improving,” he said.

With no choice but to watch his team play on without him, Lubahn makes calculated judgments about his teammates’ performance. He knows that if they’re to make a run this seaon, there are weaknesses that must first be addressed.

“I think the biggest thing for us will be finding goals, and being able to punish teams”

My WFU Athlete–Andy Lubahn

This semester I will be following Andy Lubahn, a senior forward on the Men’s Soccer team. Hailing from Erie, Pa., Lubahn immediately became an impact player for the Deacons in his debut season, starting every game and setting the school record for goals by a freshman with 10. Since then he has developed into one of the ACC’s most dangerous attackers, as well as a proven leader on and off the field.

Unfortunately, his team’s performance has not been as consistently outstanding as his offensive production. Wake advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA College Cup in 2009, only to finish below .500 in 2010–and suffer an early exit in the second round of NCAA’s last season.

Lubahn is very optimistic about this year’s team, which is off to a 3-0-1 start. But a major personal setback came this past week when he suffered severe meniscus and LCL damage during practice. He is currently listed as day-to-day, but it’s difficult to say when he might be able to return.

Still, as a senior member of the team’s leadership council, he is as determined as ever to lead Wake back to National Championship glory, even from this unexpected sideline role. I look forward to working with Andy this semester, and wish him a quick and full recovery.