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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Highlighted by a brace from junior Tate Lorentz, the No. 1 Wake Forest men's soccer team (4-0-3, 0-0-1 ACC) drew with in-state foe UNCW (1-2-2, 1-1-0 CAA), 3-3.
After the Seahawks took an early lead in the first minute, the Demon Deacons responded in the 13th as Tate Lorentz controlled a great ball from Basit Umar into the box and slotted home the equalizer for his team-high third goal of the season.
Lorentz won a penalty in the 53rd minute and put the Deacs in front as he became the first Demon Deacon with a brace since Cooper Flax did so in the ACC semifinal last season against Virginia on Nov. 14.
The Demon Deacons added a third in the 63rd minute as beautiful team play set up junior Jeffrey White with a one-on-one against the keeper before firing it into the back of the net. Lorentz and Thomas picked up assists on the goal.
UNCW responded, however, with a goal in the 71st minute before being rewarded a 90th-minute penalty kick which would be converted.
Thomas, who recorded the first multi-assist game of his career, is now tied with Umar for the team lead with three assists on the year.
Wake Forest has started unbeaten through seven matches for the third time under head coach Bobby Muuss, with the previous two instances coming in 2018 (11) and 2022 (9).
Since 2015, Muuss has led the Deacs to a stellar 94-16-10 record against non-conference opponents including a 4-0-2 mark this season. Additionally, Wake Forest is 108-17-11 during that time against unranked opposition.
The Demon Deacons are now unbeaten in their last 18 matches at Spry Stadium with wins in nine of the last 11. The Deacs hold a 13-0-5 home record dating back to Aug. 25 of last year.
The Seahawks took the lead 45 seconds into the match. In the 11th minute, Flax came inches away from an equalizer as he rocketed a shot from outside the 18 that struck the left post. Wake Forest won its first corner of the evening a few seconds later. Wake Forest found the equalizer in the 13th minute following a great ball over the top from Umar, which Lorentz controlled beautifully and slotted it home with his right foot. It marked the third goal of the season for Lorentz and third assist for Umar. Thomas was credited with the secondary assist for his second of the campaign. Perez came close to his third long-distance goal of the campaign in the 25th minute as he forced the keeper into a diving stop that went behind for a Wake Forest corner.
In the 29th, White attempted a curler with his left foot that just missed wide. The Demon Deacons went into the locker room level at 1-1. Wake Forest held a 9-to-6 shots advantage and held 59 percent of the ball over the first 45 minutes. The Deacs jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the 53rd minute as Lorentz was taken down in the box before he converted on a PK attempt, Wake Forest's first of the 2025 campaign. Just 13 minutes later, junior Jeffrey White recorded his second goal of the season beating the Seahawks' keeper following beautiful set-up play from Lorentz and Thomas.
The assist marked a five-point performance from Lorentz while Thomas recorded the first multi-assist game of his career. UNCW, however, would respond with a pair of goals in the 71st and 90 minutes before the final whistle blew at 3-3.
