Senior tri-captain Max Lachowecki tied a career-high with his third goal of the season during Friday's game at Wake Forest

#8 Irish Fall At #2 Wake Forest 2-1

Oct. 23, 2015

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – An early lead sent the University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team to a halftime advantage on Friday night, but hosts Wake Forest were able to counter. A pair of goals by the Demon Deacons, including the game-winning tally in the 87th minute, powered Wake Forest to a 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) win over Notre Dame at Spry Stadium.

The loss snapped No. 8/4 Notre Dame’s (8-3-5, 3-2-2 ACC) eight-match unbeaten streak, which dated back to a 4-0 win at Michigan State on Sept. 22. No. 2/3 Wake Forest (12-1-2, 5-0-2 ACC) outshot the Irish 12-9 during the contest, with both teams attempting three shots on goal. The Demon Deacons also logged eight corner kicks to the five of the Irish for the night.

Notre Dame pushed forward early in the first minute on the offensive end. Tri-captain Connor Klekota got free up the right wing and ripped a shot from 25 yards, but the ball went wide left of the goal.

Wake Forest looked to counter in the fifth minute, as a looping cross from the right side was headed off the far post by Jon Bakero. The try off the iron kept the contest scoreless in the early going.

A tempting cross from the right flank out in front to Jacori Hayes gave the Demon Deacons a look in the 10th minute. Hayes’ right-footed try carried over the crossbar and out of play.

Jon Gallagher got free up the left side in the 12th minute, but a steady recovery from the Wake Forest back line knocked the ball out over the end line for a corner kick. The Demon Deacons cleared the ensuing Notre Dame corner kick to stall the offensive momentum of the Irish.

Notre Dame was the first team to find the scoreboard in the 14th minute. A forwarding pass from midfield found Jeffrey Farina in space. Farina’s pass to Evan Panken led to an artful drop to charging tri-captain Max Lachowecki up the left flank. Lachowecki struck a left foot from 10 yards out inside the right post for his third goal of the year at 13:51, giving the Irish a 1-0 lead.

Jack Harrison logged the first Wake Forest shot on goal during the 33rd minute. After shaking free of the Notre Dame defense from straight on at the top of the 18-yard box, Harrison’s strong left foot toward the right post was snagged by a diving Chris Hubbard.

Wake Forest attempted its final shot of the opening half with Steven Echevarria connecting on a try that went wide right to send Notre Dame to the break with a 1-0 advantage.

The Demon Deacons tied the contest in the 51st minute. Echevarria fed an open Harrison at the right post, where he shoveled in his fifth goal of the year at 50:37 to square the match at 1-1.

Harrison had a strong bid at his second of the night in the 55th minute, clubbing a strong shot from the right wing that traveled wide of the left post.

Notre Dame looked for a counter attack in the 63rd minute. A through ball from Panken freed Lachowecki up the left wing, where a solid cross in front to Farina was headed over the crossbar to stall the offensive.

Farina again flicked a tempting header toward the Wake Forest net in the 66th minute, but Demon Deacon goalkeeper Alec Ferrell sprawled to his left for a crucial save.

Bakero slipped behind the Notre Dame back line in the 87th minute to gain the advantage ahead of the pass for Wake Forest. Bakero gathered in a feed from Ricky Greensfelder to bury his fifth of the year for the 2-1 Wake Forest lead at 86:01.

Notre Dame had a final rush toward the Demon Deacon net in the 89th minute. Brandon Aubrey tried to knock home a header attempt, but the shot went wide to the right.

The Irish close the 2015 regular season on Oct. 30 against Pittsburgh. The 7 p.m. (ET) scheduled match will air on ESPN3, and Notre Dame will honor the 2016 senior class prior to the contest.

Oct. 23, 2015
No. 2/3 Wake Forest 2, No. 8/4 Notre Dame 1
Spry Stadium (Winston-Salem, N.C.)

No. 8/4 Notre Dame 1 0 — 1
No. 2/3 Wake Forest 0 2 — 2

ND 1. Max Lachowecki (3) (Evan Panken, Jeffrey Farina), 13:51; WF 1. Jack Harrison (5) (Steven Echevarria), 50:37; WF 2. Jon Bakero (5) (Ricky Greensfelder, Jacori Hayes), 86:01.

Shots: WF 12 (7-5), ND 9 (4-5)
Shots on goal: WF 3 (1-2), ND 3 (1-2)
Saves: WF 3 (Alec Farrell 3 in 90:00), ND 3 (Chris Hubbard 3 in 90:00)
Corner Kicks: WF 8 (3-5), ND 5 (2-3)
Fouls: WF 8, ND 10
Offsides: WF 1, ND 0
Yellow Cards: Oliver Harris (ND), 41:06
Attendance: 3,976
–ND–


— Tony Jones, Athletics Communications Assistant