WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Junior goalkeeper Stephen Graziani (Succasunna, N.J./Roxbury) made eight saves, but the Monmouth University men’s soccer team fell to nationally-ranked No. 17 Wake Forest, 3-0, Sunday night at Spry Stadium. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 0-2-0, while the Demon Deacons improve to 1-1-0.

 

Graziani made five saves before the Demon Deacons broke through for what proved to be the game winner in the 41^st minute. Andy Lubahn finished off a through ball at the right post for the score. Jared Watts and Sean Okoli were credited with assists.

 

The Demon Deacons added two more goals in the second half. Luca Gimenez beat his defender in traffic and banked in a shot off the left post for the unassisted score in the 78^th minute. The lead swelled to 3-0 when Tane Gent finished on Lubahn’s through ball in the 79^th minute.

 

Joseph Schmid (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West), Jacob Rubinstein (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean) and Edney Derrick (Kumasi, Ghana/KNUST University) took two shots apiece to lead Monmouth. Alec Ferrell earned the shutout in net for Wake Forest, making two saves.  

 

The Hawks return home to face Seton Hall Friday night on The Great Lawn. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.