Wake Forest men beat Elon

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. –Wake Forest junior midfielder Corben Bone broke a 1-1 tie with a goal in the 53rd minute to lift the sixth-ranked Demon Deacons to a 2-1 victory against Elon on Wednesday night at Spry Stadium.

 
With the win, Wake Forest improves to 4-1-1 on the season, while Elon drops to 3-3-1.

 
With the game tied at one in the 53rd minute, Bone broke a 1-1 deadlock with his first goal of the season. The Plano, Texas, native dribbled around Elon defenders into the center of the field. He fired a shot from 22 yards out that found the upper right hand side of the net to put Wake Forest in front 2-1.

 
Elon nearly equalized just seconds after Bone’s goal. Justin Wyatt had a shot from 12 yards out in the center of the field that required a diving stop from Akira Fitzgerald to keep Wake Forest in front.

 
Andy Lubahn had a chance to double the Wake Forest lead in the 68th minute. Lubahn had an open look at goal from 14 yards out, but his shot attempt went wide right to keep the score at 2-1.

 
The Deacs again nearly scored their third goal of the night in the 74th minute. The Elon goalkeeper had left his goal line, leaving the net wide open for Luciano Delbono. Delbono’s shot from nine yards out on the left side on the box went to the left of the goal.

 
Wake Forest had its best chance to score an insurance goal in the 79th minute. Justin Lichtfuss played a long ball to Lubahn, making a run inside the 18. The Elon goalkeeper came out to try to make a play, but instead tripped Lubahn, setting up a penalty kick.

 
Bone attempted the penalty kick, but his shot, targeted for inside the left post was saved on a diving attempt by the Elon goalkeeper.

 
Elon had its best chance to equalize in the 80th minute. Chris Thomas was one-on-one with Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald charged out and was able to make a diving stop on Thomas’s shot to keep the Demon Deacons in front.

 
Elon was unable to get another shot on goal as Wake Forest held on for the 2-1 victory.

 
Bone, who had been held without a goal for the first five games of the season, broke out with his best performance of the season, adding a goal and assisting on Wake Forest’s first half goal. Bone’s goal was the 13th of his career, while the assist was his 27th, putting him in a tie for third in career assists at Wake Forest. Bone is two assists shy of tying Justin Moose’s school record of 29 career assists.

 
Austin da Luz also got on the score sheet for the Demon Deacons, scoring his first goal of the season in the seventh minute. It marked the eighth goal of da Luz’ career.

 
Akira Fitzgerald made three saves in goal in earning his fourth win of the season. Fitzgerald improved his record to 4-1-1. Clint Irwin suffered the loss for Elon, making six stops and allowing two goals.

 
Wake Forest controlled the shot category, out-shooting Elon 23-11, including an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. The Deacs had eight corner kicks, compared to two for the Phoenix.

 
The Demon Deacons wasted little time in getting quality looks at goal in the first half. Da Luz had a great scoring chance in the fourth minute. His shot from 30 yards out in the center of the field hit off the right post and Elon was able to clear to keep the game scoreless.

 
Da Luz made no mistake on his next attempt, scoring his first goal of the season in the seventh minute. Bone played a ball from the left flank that found da Luz in the middle of the field. His shot from 16 yards out snuck inside the right post, beating a diving Irwin to put Wake Forest in front 1-0.

 
Lubahn nearly gave Wake Forest two goals in the first 16 minutes of the game, but his attempt from 15 yards out in the middle of the field went just high of the goal.

 
The Demon Deacons continued to apply the pressure in the 18th minute as Lubahn played a cross to Zack Schilawski in the middle of the penalty area. Schilawski’s shot was saved by Irwin to keep the lead at 1-0.

 
Elon converted its first chance in the 20th minute as Wyatt tallied his second goal of the season. Erfan Imeni played a through ball down the middle of the field that found Wyatt. Wyatt’s shot from 16 yards out on the right side of the box curled inside the left post to tie the game at one.

 
Bone had a chance late in the first half to give Wake Forest a lead heading into halftime. He attempted a shot from distance, but his 25 yard shot was just wide of the left post to keep the game tied.

 
With the victory, Wake Forest extended its unbeaten streak against non-conference opponents to 45 straight games. The streak dates back to the end of the 2005 season, when Wake lost in the NCAA Tournament to California.

 
The Demon Deacons continue non-conference play on Saturday, taking on No. 8 Harvard. Kick off at Spry Stadium is set for 7 p.m.