GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore Andy Lubahn scored his third goal of the year at the 80:16 mark to lift No. 19 Wake Forest men’s soccer past UNC-Greensboro 2-1 on Saturday evening at UNCG Soccer Stadium.

 

The win improves the Demon Deacons’ record to 3-3-1 on the year, while the Spartans are now 4-3-1. The loss for UNCG marks the first time they have lost at home this season, doing so in front of the fourth largest men’s soccer crowd in school history at 3,424.

 

Lubahn received a pass from freshman Luca Gimenez before finding the back of the net. Lubahn’s goal was also the second game winner he has recorded on the season, while Gimenez picked up his first-career assist.

 

Gimenez also helped the Deacons get on the board first by converting a penalty kick at 39:43 in the first half. His PK conversion was his second goal of the year and it followed a UNCG foul in the box that prompted a pair of Spartan yellow cards.

 

The Wake goal gave the Deacons a 1-0 lead heading into halftime despite being outshot 12-6 by the Spartans in the first half.

 

UNCG more than doubled the Wake Forest shot total in the second half by a 9-4 count, and the Spartans were able to tie the match at 1-1 when Will Mack converted a penalty kick in the 63rd minute.

 

The score remained tied for nearly 20 minutes before Lubahn provided the late-game heroics for the Deacs.

 

Senior goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald earned the victory by stopping eight Spartan shots and playing all 90 minutes in goal. Peyton Ford took the loss for UNCG.

 

The Spartans ended up outshooting the Demon Deacons 21-10, but Wake had more opportunities off of corner kicks at 5-3.

 

Gimenez, sophomore Anthony Arena and freshman Kyle Emerson had the most chances for the Deacons, as they all took a team-high two shots on the evening.

 

Wake Forest will return to action on Tuesday when it hosts South Carolina at 7 p.m. at Spry Stadium.