April 2, 2003
Charleston, S.C. -
The Wake Forest men's soccer team upended the Charleston Battery of the A-League 1-0 on Wednesday night in the Charleston, South Carolina.
Stephen Keel's goal with 15 minutes remaining in the game was the difference. Keel touched home a long ball from Jeremiah White following an impressive attacking build-up.
The game was played at Charleston's beautiful Blackbaud Stadium and was one of Wake Forest's five spring competition dates.
The teams went into halftime scoreless thanks to a pair of spectacular saves by Deacon goalkeeper William Hesmer.
In the second half, the Battery had a player sent off. Playing with a man advantage, the Deacons turned up the offensive pressure. Keel's game-winner was the result of that pressure and Wake Forest had a number of scoring opportunities before and after the goal.
The Deacon backline was excellent as the Deacons shut out one of the most talented teams in American professional soccer that features seven former MLS players and one former English Premier League defender.
"We're very excited about the result especially given the opponent," head coach Jay Vidovich said. "It was tremendous experience for our team to play well against such a quality opponent in such a quality facility."
Spring soccer at Wake Forest continues this weekend as the Deacons travel to the Mountain State Invitational in Bluefield, West Virginia. That event features seven NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago. Wake Forest will face Kentucky and American University on Sunday.
The Deacons return home to Spry Stadium next weekend as Wake Forest hosts Greensboro College and the Charlotte Eagles on April 11. The following weekend, the Deacons entertain NC State and the Greensboro Dynamo.
Wake Forest will return 10 starters in the fall from its 15-2-4 team that was ranked number one in the country for six weeks in 2002. The Deacons will open the 2003 season at Spry Stadium in grand fashion during the last weekend in August with a four-team event that includes North Carolina, St. John's and Connecticut.
