RALEIGH, N.C. – A season-high offensive outburst carried the Wake Forest men’s soccer team to a 5-2 ACC win at Dail Soccer Stadium on Saturday, October 22.

The Demon Deacons got scores from freshman Teddy Mullin, the first of his young career, and sophomore Luca Gimenez in the first half before adding three more after the break for the program’s highest scoring output since Oct. 9, 2009 when Wake also buried five goals against an ACC rival in Virginia Tech.

Danny Wenzel added a penalty kick in the 62^nd minute, freshman Sean Okoli booted his first career tally in the 71st minute and Gimenez tallied again in the 75th for his first career brace as the Deacs improved to 7-6-2 overall and 4-3 in the ACC.

The Deacs also remained undefeated this season when finding the back of the net first and extended their unbeaten streak against NC State to seven straight. More importantly, the Deacs tacked on another three points in conference play and kept their chances for a home ACC tournament match alive.

Wake had two excellent chances early, but both were snuffed out by the Wolfpack defense. In the  seventh minute, sophomore midfielder Jared Watts attempted to lift a ball over NC State keeper Fabian Otte only to watch his offering intercepted. 10 minutes later, junior forward Andy Lubahn found a slick pass from classmate Ben Newnam with space in the box, but his attempt was blocked wide of the post.

In the 23rd minute Wake finally broke through on a restart by Mullin, who opted to attack the net from 19 yards and snuck his shot past Otte to the upper right corner.

NC State pressed hard to equalize over the next 22 minutes, getting off nine close opportunities but the back line held firm. Six of the chances were blocked by Deacon defenders.

Junior keeper Michael Lisch made his first stop of the evening in the 40th minute off a header attempt by the Wolfpack’s Simon Cox. Just a minute later, NC State had back-to-back shots blocked by the Deacs.

Just when it seemed the one goal lead would stand heading into the locker room, Wake Forest launched a counter following a wide shot by NC State when Lubahn beat two opponents for a ball just past the midline and passed forward to a streaking Luca Gimenez. The sophomore forward controlled the ball and went straight toward Otte down the middle before firing far post to give the Deacs a 2-0 halftime advantage.

Wake came out aggressive in the second stanza, taking two corners and getting a couple close chances in the first 15 minutes before an NC State foul brought Wenzel up for a penalty kick in the 62nd minute, which the Deacons’ captain converted with a bullet to the upper right corner for his third PK score of the season.

NC State’s Nazmi Albadawi broke the shutout in the 66th minute with a strike from inside the box, making a move to shake a Wake defender before booting the ball to the far post.

In the 71st, Okoli stole the ball from a Wolfpack defender before booting near post for his first career tally. The rookie forward initiated another attack only two minutes later when he dished to Mullin, who unselfishly crossed to Gimenez for the forward’s second goal of the match.

Albadawi secured a brace less than a minute later to bring the Pack back within three and launched two more dangerous attacks in the closing minutes, but the three goal cushion would hold up for the Deacs.

Lisch finished the evening with three saves, teaming with the Deacons’ back four to fend off 21 shots by NC State, the most against by a WFU opponent this season. The Deacs held the edge in shots on frame, 9-6, and made the most of their quality chances.

Next up for Wake Forest will be its final home match of the 2011 regular season when William & Mary visits Spry Stadium for a tilt on Tuesday, Oct. 25. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. 

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