WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Jon Bakero tallied five points on two goals and an assist as second-ranked Wake Forest defeated the Longwood men's soccer by an 8-0 margin.
Bakero finished the game with a pair of goals and an assist, as he was one of seven Demon Deacons to get on the score sheet throughout the contest.
The highly-touted Demon Deacon (12-1-0) attack that ranks third in the nation with 2.75 goals per game and has three individuals coming into the game among the top 25 in the nation had 25 shots throughout the contest, led by six from Omir Fernandez.
Coming into Tuesday's game ranked third in all three major polls and No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, Wake Forest is the highest ranked team the Lancers have faced in the Division I era. In a season that has seen Longwood play four ACC programs – Pitt, NC State, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest – the reigning NCAA Tournament runner-up marks one of two top 10 program's that Longwood has faced, along with UNCW – the most faced by a Lancer squad in the 11-year D-I era.
"When our pride relents we will realize that we have a lot of work to do to recover the season never mind the nation's best," said head coach
Jon Atkinson. "No If's and but's about it, Wake are an exceptional team. However, we made the task more difficult by not executing our game plan fully. First half we were outdone by three set pieces. In the second half, we were exposed by their quality and we lost our focus"
Tom Devitt had a chance for an equalizer in the first half, but the opportunity was ultimately saved by Wake Forest goalkeeper Andreu Cases Mundet.
Jacob Reimers received his first career start in goal for the Lancers, making four saves on 25 Wake Forest shots. Meanwhile, Cases Mundet and Kyle Barkett combined for time in the Wake Forest clean sheet.
"I tried something different tonight based on who we were playing," Atkinson said. "It didn't pan out and we will have to flush this one and get ready for conference Saturday."
Longwood returns to conference play Saturday, Oct. 14, as the squad returns to the Tar Heel State to square off against Campbell. First touch from Buies Creek, N.C., is set for 7 p.m.
#GoWood
