No. 4 Orange Hosts Atlantic Division Rival Wake Forest

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The No. 4 Syracuse Orange (10-1-0, 3-1-0 ACC) takes on Wake Forest (6-5-0, 2-2-0 ACC) for the first time in Syracuse on Friday, Oct. 10. Game time is 7 p.m. at the SU Soccer Stadium. The race for seeding in this year's conference tournament is heating up. The Orange has nine points and is tied with Louisville for first place in the Atlantic Division. Wake Forest is tied for third with six points.

HISTORIC START
With 10 wins in its first 11 games, the 2014 squad has surpassed the 1982 and 1984 Orange for the best start to a season in program history. No previous Syracuse team had ever won 10 of its first 11 matches. The 1982 and 1984 squads both went 9-1-1 in its first 11 contests.

DOMINATING DEFENSE
SU has allowed the fewest goals in the nation (2) and owns the country's top goals-against average (0.18) and save percentage (.952). The Orange's .820 shutout percentage tied with Penn State for the national lead.

Goalie Alex Bono leads the NCAA in goals-against average (0.18) and save percentage (.952).

The Orange's nine shutouts are tied for sixth on the school single-season record list. The team shut out nine of its first 10 opponents, including five in a row between Sept. 16 and Oct. 7. The five straight cleans sheets were one short of the school (6) set during the 1980 season.

LAST TIME OUT
Syracuse defeated Albany, 2-1, on Tuesday, Oct. 7. Jordan Murrell scored his second goal of the season on a corner kick that went untouched into the top corner of the net. After Albany tied the game in the second half, Alex Halis notched the game-winner in the 82nd minute. The Orange outshot Albany, 17-4, and earned nine corners, six more than the Great Danes. The SU defense did not allow a shot in the last 34-plus minutes.

ORANGE EARNS HIGHEST RANKING IN PROGRAM HISTORY
Syracuse earned one first-place vote and is No. 4 in the most recent NSCAA poll, released on Oct. 7. The ranking is two spots better than the highest previous ranking in program history (No. 6), which was achieved during the 1984 season.

THE WAKE FOREST SERIES
The Orange and the Demon Deacons have met twice, once in 1993 and once in 2013. Wake Foest has won both games, scoring four goals in each match. Last season, Syracuse's first year in the ACC, the Demon Deacons defeated the Orange, 4-1. Emil Ekblom scored Syracuse's only goal.

SCOUTING THE DEMON DEACONS
The Demon Deacons are led by forward Michael Gamble who leads the ACC in points (19) and assists (7). Gamble is tied with Ekblom for the ACC lead in goals with six. Four of Gamble's goal came against VMI on Sept. 24 in a 7-0 Wake Forest rout.

Alec Ferrell has played all 11 matches in goal for Wake Forest, recording one shutout, 37 saves and allowing 18 goals.

The Demon Deacons have outshot their opponents, 208-111. Their 208 shots leads the ACC.

Head coach Jay Vidovich is in his 21st season as head coach and 29th year overall at Wake Forest. He has been named the national coach of the year twice and ACC Coach of the Year five times. He has led the Demon Deacons to four College Cups and the 2007 national championship.

UP NEXT...
The Orange travels to Storrs, Conn. to take on former BIG EAST rival Connecticut at Morrone Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.

No. 4 Orange Hosts Atlantic Division Rival Wake Forest

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Players Mentioned

Alex Bono

Emil Ekblom

Alex Halis

Jordan Murrell

Syracuse University Athletics