WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Colgate went toe-to-toe with No. 1 seed Wake Forest for 90 minutes, but a goal in each half gave the Demon Deacons a 2-0 victory Sunday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Spry Stadium.
The Raiders season comes to an end at 13-5-5 overall, tying the program record (1992, 1994, 2016, 2018) for the most wins in a single season.
Colgate's senior class closes out with 48 wins, the most of any class in team history. The Raiders over the past four years have won three Patriot League titles and three NCAA Tournament matches, including upsets over No. 13 Michigan, No. 22 New Hampshire, and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2017.
Wake Forest got on the board first with a strike in the 15th minute. Machop Chol won a loose-ball battle in the right corner and spun a cross into the box, where Omir Fernandez booted a one-timer to the back of the net for an early 1-0 lead.
Oliver Harris gave Colgate its best scoring chance in the first half after blocking an outlet pass near midfield and leading the Raiders on the charge the other way. Harris pushed a pass ahead to
Steven DeLeo at the top of the box, where his shot was turned away by the Demon Deacons keeper.
The Raiders buckled down defensively and
Jacob Harris registered a pair of saves after the early goal to send the match to halftime with the score still 1-0.
Colgate used a strong second half to generate opportunities in search of the equalizer. Harris created space on the left side and blasted a shot just wide in the 55th minute before
Abdel Sanogo sent a cross into the box that was blocked away by Wake Forest in the 60th minute.
Kentaro Morrison forced a save in the 71st minute on a long shot from 25 yards out, which proved to be the final chance for Colgate.
The Raiders had Wake Forest playing on its heels for the majority of the second half, but a late goal in the 80th minute sealed the 2-0 victory for the Demon Deacons.
BOTTOM LINE
• No. 2 Wake Forest 2, Colgate 0
FROM THE SOURCE
• Colgate head coach
Erik Ronning:
"I am so proud of our guys' effort tonight. We defended a ton in the first half and it certainly paid a toll. I actually thought both goals were very preventable, although they put us under a lot of pressure. We made some halftime adjustments, and despite giving up a goal on a giveaway, we played very well."
"I felt like we were going to get one in the second half. This team has played in a lot of big games and you could see how we grew as the game wore on. We created some momentum and generated scoring chances, but we never could get that final pass."
"Our guys played our hearts out right until the end. We gave ourselves a chance to push the game further. I could not be a prouder coach. I believe we are a team that can compete with the best teams in the country and we proved that tonight."
FOR THE RECORD
• Colgate's season ends at 13-5-5.
• Wake Forest improved to 18-2-0 with the win.
KEY RAIDER NOTES
• J. Harris finished with three saves in the match.
• DeLeo and Morrison finished with Colgate's two shots on goal.
• O. Harris finished with two shots, while four different Raiders registered a shot apiece.
BY THE NUMBERS
• Wake Forest led Colgate in shots (11-6) and shots on goal (5-2).
• The two teams finished with five shots aside in the second half after Wake Forest held a 6-1 shots advantage at halftime.
• Corner kicks finished 4-0 in favor of the Demon Deacons.
• Colgate was called for 19 fouls, while Wake Forest committed 13 fouls.
