Nov. 25, 2003

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Deacons Host Virginia in NCAA Second Round... 12 days after facing Virginia in the ACC Tournament semifinals, the Demon Deacons and Cavaliers square off again, this time with higher stakes: the winner moves on, the loser's season is over.

Rivals Wake Forest and Virginia will meet for the third time this season, but for the first time at Spry Stadium in 2003.

The 'Hoos won the first two meetings this year (2-1 in Charlottesville on Sept. 13 and 1-0 in the ACC Tournament on Nov. 14). Last time the teams met at Spry Stadium was in the regular season last year, a 2-1 Wake Forest victory.

Virginia leads the all-time series, 25-3-4. The Deacons are 1-2-1 all-time at Spry Stadium against Cavaliers since the facility opened.

The winner of Wednesday's second round game will play the winner of the Creighton at San Diego game on Sunday, November 30.

Deacons in the NCAA Tournament...
Wake Forest is making its third straight and eighth overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Deacons are 3-7 all-time and have actually never played a road game in the event.

The program has twice advanced to the round of 16, first in 1989 and again last year, in 2002. As they were in 1999, the Demon Deacons are the three-seed in the tournament. Last year, Wake Forest was the tournament's top seed. (see page 3)

Wake Forest's complete year-by-year tournament history can be found on page 3.

Wednesday's Game At A Glance: #3 Wake Forest vs. Virginia Wednesday; 7:00 pm; Spry Stadium Live Stats: Live stats will be provided here beginning at 7:00 p.m. Records: After a first round bye, Wake Forest is still 15-4. Virginia is 10-9-2 following a 2-0 win over Seton Hall. Rankings: The Demon Deacons are ranked fourth by the NSCAA and Soccer America. Virginia is ranked 22nd by Soccer America. Coaches: Jay Vidovich is in his 10th year , all at Wake Forest, with a 119-62-17 mark. George Gelnovatch is 124-44-14 at Virginia. Did You Know?: Wake Forest and Virginia have never met in the NCAA Tournament.

Last Time Out...
it's been 12 days since Wake Forest was on the field for a game and it was against the same Virginia Cavaliers.

In that physical, intense game, the Deacons allowed an own goal in the first half. The Cavaliers' defense withstood being outshot 11-3 including a 7-1 edge in the second half.

Ryan Burke made five saves and Virginia eliminated the Deacons from the ACC Tournament in the semifinal round for third straight year by a 1-0 score.

Here We Go Again... The Deacons and Cavaliers have already met twice this season and are pitted against each other for a third time.

Wake Forest has never played a team three times in one season.

Wake Forest - Virginia games are always physical affairs and they tend to draw a lot of whistles and stoppages of play.

In the last eight meetings, the teams have combined for 306 fouls, 36 cautions and two red cards. Wake Forest has accounted for 132 fouls and 12 cards but neither ejection. (see chart on page 2).

In this year's regular season meeting in Charlottesville, Wake Forest All-American and ACC Player of the Year Jeremiah White took an elbow while in the center circle that broke his cheekbone.

In the ACC Tournament, two separate incidents nearly sparked fights. White Selected as ACC Player of the Year... senior All-American forward Jeremiah White was named as the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year. White becomes the first Wake Forest player in history to earn the honor and to be selected to the All-ACC first team three straight years.

Hesmer, White Tabbed as Hermann Trophy Finalists... senior All-Americans William Hesmer and Jeremiah White have been selected as two of 15 finalists for the most coveted individual award in college soccer, the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy. Both were repeat selections to the All-ACC first team. White has eight goals and five assists in 14 games. Hesmer owned a 0.77 goals against average and five shutouts in 15 games before suffering a season-ending injury on November 5 against Davidson. Deacons Dot the All-ACC Teams... a program record of nine Deacons were recognized on the All-ACC first, second and freshman teams.

Jeremiah White was joined on the first team by William Hesmer and sophomore defender Michael Parkhurst. It was Hesmer's third straight appearance, the second season on the first team. Parkhurst makes his first showing on the first team after being listed as a second teamer in 2002. Sophomore midfielder Justin Moose made the second team for the second straight year.

On the second team, earning their first-ever All-ACC recognition were senior midfielder Vicente Bastidas, junior midfielder Amir Lowery and junior forward Scott Sealy.

Steven Curfman and Wells Thompson made the ACC All-Freshman team.

McEachern Takes Over in Goal... with William Hesmer out for the season, the goalkeeping responsibilities fall into the hands of fifth-year senior Brad McEachern. Entering the NCAA Tournament, McEachern has 17 career appearances, seven starts and four shutouts. In 852 career minutes, the native of Arcadia, Calif., owns a sparkling career goals against average 0.84 goals against average.

He did not see any game action in 2000. Therefore, McEachern was able to use that year as a redshirt season.

McEachern graduated last May with a degree in economics and planned on joining the work force. In August, he opted to return to graduate school at Wake Forest. He re-joined the Deacons a couple days into the preseason.

McEachern appeared in the High Point, Gardner-Webb and Duke games before getting pressed into regular action.

He plans to attend accountancy school at Southern Cal after leaving Wake Forest.

Hesmer Out of the Season... the senior season for All-American goalkeeper William Hesmer came to an early end on November 4 when he suffered season-ending injuries in his left knee and right thigh in a game against Davidson. In a collision with a Davidson player, Hesmer damaged the posterior collateral ligament in his left knee and developed a hematoma in his right thigh, possibly resulting from a muscle tear.

Hesmer underwent emergency surgery on November 6 to treat the hematoma. Doctors at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center expect Hesmer to be out at least six months.

Hesmer's soccer resume is as impressive as any player in the 24-year history of Wake Forest soccer. A two-year captain, he is the school's career leader in goals against average and shutouts. He is a finalist for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy. He is a three-time All-ACC selection, twice a member of the first team.

During Hesmer's two-year captainship, he led the Deacons 23 straight weeks ranked in the top ten.