WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Freshman forward Sean Okoli blasted an 80th minute game-winner, his second goal in as many matches, to boost the Wake Forest men’s soccer team to a 1-0 non-conference win over visiting William & Mary on Tuesday, October 25 at Spry Stadium.

The Demon Deacons improve to 8-6-2 overall on the season with the win and now have just two regular season matches left on the table as they push to peak hurtling toward postseason play.

For Okoli, the goal was his first career game-winner and it came just three days after his debut tally in a 5-2 win at NC State. He also led the team with three shots on frame, but for 79 minutes Wake was unable get its breakthrough goal despite several solid opportunities.

With 10 minutes in the match remaining and the score still knotted at nil, midfielder Luciano Delbono was in the process of being taken down by a Tribe defender just past the mid-line. But the junior was still able to play the ball forward to Okoli, who finished a strong run with a near post shot and enjoyed a Spry scoring celebration for the first time in his young career. Delbono was credited with his second assist of the season on the sequence.

Even without a score, the first half was eventful as Wake got off three shots on frame and established possession for most of the period, but William & Mary’s senior keeper, Colin Smolinsky, made three quality stops to keep the Deacs offense in check. Smolinsky finished the match with six saves over the full 90 minutes.

For the Deacs, junior Michael Lisch made two stops in goal to earn his fifth shutout of the season. As a team, Wake Forest surpassed last year’s total of four shutouts with a staunch defensive effort. WFU also controlled the stat sheet, out-shooting the Tribe 14-7 and holding a 12-2 advantage in corner kicks on their way to beating William & Mary for the sixth time in seven all-time meetings.

With no more dates left in the regular season at Spry, the Deacs will return to the road for their final two matches before the ACC Tournament. First up will be a meeting with the defending NCAA champion Akron Zips on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7:00 p.m. followed by a 7:30 p.m. tilt against Maryland, the current leaders in the ACC standings, on Nov. 3.

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