Coastal Carolina men’s soccer knocks Wake Forest out of NCAA Tournament in OT
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Ninety minutes of soccer was not enough for Coastal Carolina and Wake Forest in their NCAA Second Round matchup, but 98 minutes and nine seconds proved to be enough as Jakub Stourac found the golden goal for the Chanticleers. Coastal’s 2-1 win sends the Chanticleers to College Park, Md., for a Third Round matchup against Maryland on Sunday, Nov. 25.
The Third Round appearance is the second all-time for the Chanticleers, joining the 2003 team who defeated ACC opponent North Carolina in the 2003 Second Round. In addition, Coastal (20-2-2) equals the 2003 team for the best record in program history with its 20th victory.
With the score deadlocked at 1-1 eight minutes into the extra session, Coastal intercepted a Wake Forest pass around midfield and played the ball ahead to senior forward Robby Joe Daniels. Daniels took a couple of touches into the box and ripped a shot that was blocked by a Demon Deacon defender. Stourac, who was following the play through the middle of the field, tracked down the ball and slotted it home for the first game-winning goal of his career.
Wake Forest struck first in the contest as Michael Gamble found the back of the Chanticleer net in the fourth minute of play. The Demon Deacon’s Sam Okoli whipped a cross into the box that appeared to be collected by Coastal’s Mark Petrus; however, the ball bounced off Petrus’ chest and into open space in front of the goal. Gamble collected the rebound and easily hammered it into the net for his eighth goal of the season.
Coastal nearly found the equalizer in the 24th minute as Justin Portillo sent an excellent cross into the box toward the far post. Shawn McLaws popped through the Wake Forest defense and got his head on the ball; unfortunately, the ball clanked off the post and was cleared away before Coastal was able to get another shot off.
Petrus came up big in the 33rd minute as he notched a pair of saves in one-v-one situations. Petrus’ first save came against Okoli who had broken free inside the box. Thirty seconds later the junior stopped a point-blank shot off the foot of the Demon Deacons’ Luca Gimenez.
Pedro Ribeiro had a prime scoring opportunity in the 60th minute. The Brazilian spun his defender around in the box and launched a right-footed shot just high of the goal. Bennett followed suit seconds later has he was afforded a good look at the net, but his shot attempt would be blocked by a Demon Deacon defender.
Coastal defense was tested in the 63rd minute as Wake Forest fired off three consecutive shots. Okoli sent a through ball ahead to Ross Tomaselli on the left side of the field. Tomaselli launched a shot that was saved by Petrus. The Chants then blocked two more shots by the Demon Deacons before the ball could be cleared away.
Portillo finally put the Chanticleers on the scoreboard at the 64:53 mark of play, leveling the game at 1-all. Bennett was fouled just outside the 18-yard box, setting up a direct free kick by Portillo. Portillo stood over the ball took two steps and launched an in-swinger that finished just inside the left upper 90. The goal was Portillo’s fourth of the season.
Both defensive units held fast through the remainder of regulation, forcing Coastal’s fifth overtime session of the season.
Coastal finished the game with an 18-16 shot advantage, while also out-cornering the Demon Deacons 6-0. Petrus finished with six saves for the Chants. Wake Forest’s Andrew Harris recorded five saves.
Sunday’s kickoff at Maryland is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Terrapins’ Ludwig Field and the game can be seen live for free on TerpsTV
