WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The seventh-ranked Wake Forest men’s soccer team dropped a tough 1-0 decision Tuesday night at Spry Stadium to No. 18 Elon.

The game-winning goal came off the foot of Elon midfielder Eduardo Alvarez on a penalty kick after the Deacs were called for a hand ball. With 4:13 remaining in the first half, Alvarez stepped up and placed his shot into the bottom-left side of goal past a diving Andrew Harris to put Elon up 1-0.

The loss drops Wake Forest to 5-1 on the season while the Elon improves to 6-0. Elon’s goal in the 41st minute snapped Wake Forest’s 327-minute shutout streak dating back to the August 30 contest against Florida International, a 3-2 victory for the Deacs.

Wake Forest came out in the second half and pushed the Elon back line looking for the equalizer. Just minutes into the second half, the Deacs thought they had the game-tying goal when Michael Gamble headed in a cross from the right side of the box from in close, but it was called back for offsides to keep the score 1-0 in favor of the Phoenix. Gamble’s personal four-game scoring streak was snapped in the loss with the goal called back.

After the called-back goal, the Deacs’ best chance to score came just seconds before the final whistle. A ball that was sent into the middle of the box was deflected away out to the left side of the penalty area but trickled to a wide open Jack Harrison with five seconds to play. He wound up and fired his shot to the right post and beat the keeper, but his shot was slightly deflected away by a defender and went out for a corner kick as time expired.

Overall, Wake Forest took 11 shots to Elon’s five. Out of halftime, the Phoenix held a couple players back in an attempt to keep the score 1-0 and did not attempt a shot in the second half even though it had numerous breaks down the field on counter attacks. In the first half, the Phoenix outshot Wake Forest 5-3. Elon’s only shot on goal in the game was the goal. The Demon Deacons finished with five shots on target, all in the second half.

Elon’s Matthew Jegier made five saves in earning his fifth shutout in six games to start his career after he redshirted the 2014 season. Harris did not make a save in the game.

Wake Forest will look to rebound on Saturday night back at Spry Stadium against ACC-foe Syracuse. Saturday’s contest will be broadcast on ESPN3. First kick is set for 7 p.m. All-time, Wake Forest is 2-1 against the Orange, but the Demon Deacons dropped a 3-1 decision last season on Oct. 10 on the road against then-No. 4 Syracuse.

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