{"id":437356,"date":"2026-08-19T14:48:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T14:48:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/437356\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T14:48:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T14:48:47","slug":"demon-deacons-to-open-2026-campaign-against-san-francisco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/437356\/","title":{"rendered":"Demon Deacons to Open 2026 Campaign Against San Francisco"},"content":{"rendered":"

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. \u2013 Looking to continue its incredible record in season openers under head coach Bobby Muuss<\/a>, the Wake Forest men’s soccer team will kick-off the 2026 campaign Thursday night against San Francisco at Spry Stadium.<\/p>\n

The match against the Dons is slated for 7:30 p.m., directly following the women’s soccer match against Iowa, and will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra<\/a> with live stats available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Demon Deacons are attempting to Sell Out Spry for a regular season match for the first time since it became a ticketed event. Students will be given a free Wake Forest Soccer t-shirt at the gate while supplies last.<\/p>\n

MATCHUP NOTES
\n \n<\/p>\n


\n\tWake Forest has won the season opener in 36 out of its 45 seasons and eight out of 11 times under the direction of Bobby Muuss<\/a>.
\n\tAfter the first scheduled game of 2025 was canceled due to severe weather at halftime, the Deacs defeated UCF (2-1) at Spry in the official season opener with a goal from Jeffrey White<\/a> in the 82nd minute sealing the win.
\n\tThis will be the third all-time meeting between Wake Forest and San Francisco, with the Deacs taking the first two in 1996 (2-0 away) and 1998 (2-1 home).
\n\tThe Demon Deacons hold a 6-1-1 overall record against current WCC member institutions, with the most recent coming in the 2016 College Cup as they defeated Santa Clara, 2-1, to advance to the national championship match. <\/p>\n

\nSCOUTING THE DONS<\/p>\n


\n\tSan Francisco went 10-6-1 (5-4 WCC) last season, reaching 10 wins for the first time since 2017 and finishing in the top four of the conference for the second consecutive season.
\n\tThe Dons were selected fourth in the 2026 WCC Preseason Poll with 53 points, behind Portland, San Diego and Denver.
\n\tSan Francisco returns all four of its All-WCC selections from a season ago: First Team selections David Raphael and Brayden Beason, Honorable Mention selection Matthew Duggan, and reigning WCC Freshman of the Year Ben Norris.
\n\tRaphael led the Dons with eight goals, 20 points, 43 shots, 21 shots on goal and three game-winning goals while tying for the team lead with four assists.
\n\t
\n\t\tHe appeared in all 17 matches last season, starting each contest, and recorded two braces and was one of 45 players invited to the 2025 MLS College Showcase.
\n\t
\n\t
\n\tBeason finished second on the team in 2025 with seven goals and 15 points, adding one assist. He ranked second on the team with 38 shots and 16 shots on goal while recording two game-winning goals.
\n\t
\n\t\tHe was selected 73rd overall in the third round of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.
\n\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

\nEXPERIENCED TRANSFER ADDITIONS<\/p>\n


\n\tWake Forest adds five proven collegiate players in Joby Reid<\/a>, Ronnie Garcia<\/a>, Miles Hadley<\/a>, Luke Kirilenko<\/a> and Marcos Miranda<\/a>. This earned Wake Forest the No. 23 ranked transfer class in the country according to TopDrawerSoccer.
\n\tReid arrives in Winston-Salem after a breakout freshman campaign at Houston Christian, where he was named the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year while totaling six goals and six assists.
\n\tGarcia earned CAA All-Rookie Team honors at Campbell after appearing in 17 matches and scoring his first collegiate goal while primarily playing left wing-back.
\n\tHadley joins the Demon Deacons following two standout seasons at Army West Point, where he started all 34 matches of his career and helped the Black Knights record eight clean sheets in 2025.
\n\tMiranda enters the program after earning Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year and NAIA Third Team All-America honors at John Brown, finishing his two seasons with 11 goals and 11 assists.
\n\tKirilenko brings more than 50 Division I appearances after stops at Rider and Hofstra, earning MAAC All-Academic Team and CSC Academic All-District honors.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\nELITE ACADEMY PRODUCTS<\/p>\n


\n\tWill Kuisel<\/a>, the nation’s No. 55 recruit according to TopDrawerSoccer, arrives from FC Cincinnati Academy after competing in both MLS NEXT and MLS NEXT Pro.
\n\tNolan Tinsley<\/a>, ranked No. 77 nationally, joins Wake Forest from Barca Residency Academy after earning Southwest Conference Player of the Year honors.
\n\tHenry Rosenfeld<\/a> starred for Cedar Stars Bergen, helping the club reach two MLS NEXT Cup Finals.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\nPROFESSIONAL & INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE<\/p>\n


\n\tGoalkeeper Quinn Syrett<\/a> developed in Charlotte FC’s academy, made his professional debut with Crown Legacy and recently earned a call-up to the United States U-18 National Team.
\n\tPhilip Biskupski<\/a> spent five seasons with Toronto FC Academy, recording more than 60 goals and 60 assists while representing Canada internationally and training with Bayern Munich’s academy.
\n\tOliver Kurnik<\/a> trained with Orange County SC’s first team while developing through San Diego Surf ECNL and City SC MLS NEXT.
\n\tRooney Osei<\/a> arrives after starring with Asanska FC, earning five Man of the Match honors in Ghana.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\nCONTINUING A CHAMPIONSHIP STANDARD<\/p>\n


\n\tWake Forest’s 2026 signing class is ranked No. 9 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.
\n\tSince 2021, the Demon Deacons have signed recruiting classes ranked No. 1, No. 2, No. 4, No. 10 and now No. 9 nationally.
\n\tThe class joins a program that has produced more than 50 professional players since 2015. <\/p>\n

\nRETURNING PRODUCTION<\/p>\n


\n\tDespite sending multiple standouts to the professional ranks last season, Wake Forest returned 46.2 percent of its goals (18 of 39), 47.1 percent of its assists (16 of 34) and 66.7 percent of its minutes played (11,222 of 16,830) from last season.\u00a0
\n\tFour of Wake Forest’s five players who started all 17 matches last season return: Jonah Mednard<\/a>, Jose Perez<\/a>, Travis Smith Jr.<\/a> and Amoni Thomas<\/a>.
\n\tGoalkeeper Jonah Mednard<\/a> is back after starting every match in 2025, recording 53 saves and six clean sheets.
\n\tWake Forest also brings back three of its top defensive minute earners in Travis Smith Jr.<\/a> (1,400 minutes), Daniel Krueger<\/a> (886) and Mason Sullivan<\/a> (735) while also welcoming back Copeland Berkley<\/a> (384) and Lorenze Currie<\/a> (47) after impressive freshman campaigns.
\n\tMLS SuperDraft selection Tate Lorentz<\/a> elected to return to Winston-Salem after finishing second on the team with six goals and five assists a season ago.
\n\tAdditional returning contributors in the midfield and the attack include Jeffrey White<\/a> (three goals, two assists), Jose Perez<\/a> (three goals) and Joel Torbic<\/a> (2025 Most Improved Player).
\n\tRising sophomores David Nguema<\/a>, Alfred Debah<\/a> and Chandler Young<\/a> also showed promising flashes during their freshman seasons and will look to play an even bigger role in the squad this fall.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\nBUILDING ON LAST SEASON<\/p>\n


\n\tWake Forest had two MLS SuperDraft selections following the 2025 season, highlighted by Harvey Sarajian<\/a> becoming Bobby Muuss<\/a>‘ fifth top-five draft pick.
\n\tCooper Flax<\/a> signed a Homegrown contract with New York City FC, becoming Wake Forest’s 14th Homegrown signing under Muuss.
\n\tThe Demon Deacons led the ACC and ranked seventh nationally in goals per game with 39 goals in 17 matches.
\n\tWake Forest continues to lead the nation with 159 total victories since 2015 while capturing an ACC-best three conference championships during that span.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\nTHE SPRY ADVANTAGE<\/p>\n


\n\tSince 2015, Wake Forest has totaled 117 home victories, 15 more than any other Division I program.
\n\tThe Demon Deacons have posted an ACC-best 81.2 percent home winning percentage during that stretch.
\n\tLast season, the Deacs posted a 6-2-4 mark at home and will have plenty of opportunities this year for more marquee wins at Spry Stadium.
\n\t
\n\t\tWake Forest hosts three of the top seven teams picked in the ACC preseason poll with Virginia (No. 3), SMU (No. 4) and Duke (No. 7) all paying a visit to Winston-Salem this season.
\n\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

\nBATTLE TESTED DEACS<\/p>\n


\n\tOf the 17 teams on the 2026 schedule, five are ranked in either the United Soccer Coaches or TopDrawerSoccer top 25 preseason polls. <\/p>\n

\n2026 Wake Forest Opponents Ranked in the Preseason Top 25<\/p>\n


\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tTeam
\n\t\t\tTDS Rank
\n\t\t\tUSC Rank
\n\t\t\tDate
\n\t\t\tLocation
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tNC State
\n\t\t\t#6
\n\t\t\t#2
\n\t\t\tSept. 25
\n\t\t\tRaleigh, N.C.
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tVirginia
\n\t\t\t#16
\n\t\t\t#11
\n\t\t\tSept. 19
\n\t\t\tWinston-Salem, N.C.
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tAkron
\n\t\t\t#8
\n\t\t\t#12
\n\t\t\tAug. 28
\n\t\t\tAkron, Ohio
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tSMU
\n\t\t\t#14
\n\t\t\t#15
\n\t\t\tOct. 2
\n\t\t\tWinston-Salem, N.C.
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tDuke
\n\t\t\t#15
\n\t\t\tRV
\n\t\t\tSept. 5
\n\t\t\tWinston-Salem, N.C.
\n\t\t
\n\t <\/p>\n

\nTHE HOMETOWN KID RETURNS<\/p>\n


\n\tWinston-Salem native Tate Lorentz<\/a> enjoyed a breakout campaign after transferring to Wake Forest ahead of the 2025 season.\u00a0
\n\tThe redshirt sophomore finished second on the team in goals (6), assists (5) and points (17), with those totals also ranking among the ACC leaders in each category.
\n\tLorentz was one of the most clinical finishers in the conference, converting six of his 17 total shots for an impressive .353 shooting percentage, the best mark on the roster.
\n\tHis season was highlighted by a five-point performance (2 G, 1 A) against UNCW on Sept. 16, recording his first-career brace and the second highest single-match point total by any Demon Deacon last season behind Cooper Flax’s<\/a> hat trick against Liberty. <\/p>\n

\nNATIONAL CHAMPION BACK IN WINSTON<\/p>\n


\n\tOne of the most decorated players in Demon Deacon history, Zack Schilawski, who helped lead the team to the program’s first NCAA National Championship in 2007, has returned to Wake Forest ahead of the 2026 season as assistant coach\/director of player development after spending the previous two seasons on the coaching staff at Pittsburgh.\u00a0
\n\tHe notably scored the match-winning goal in the 2007 NCAA Championship match against Ohio State.
\n\tHelped guide the Panthers to the 2024 ACC Regular Season Championship, the first in program history, while assisting Pitt to the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and an NCAA Quarterfinal appearance.
\n\tWorked closely with Pitt’s attacking players and helped develop multiple All-ACC performers and MLS talent, including 2025 MLS SuperDraft selection Michael Sullivan.
\n\tFinished his Wake Forest career as the program’s all-time leader in appearances (99) while totaling 100 career points on 40 goals and 20 assists. Recorded 15 career game-winning goals.\u00a0
\n\tEarned Third Team All-America honors as a senior in 2009 after leading the ACC in goals and points.
\n\tTwo-time Academic All-American and finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.\u00a0
\n\tSelected ninth overall by the New England Revolution in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.
\n\tScored five goals as an MLS rookie and became the first rookie in league history to record a hat trick in his home debut.\u00a0
\n\tAlso played professionally for the Carolina RailHawks before beginning his coaching career, which included assistant coaching stops at UNC Wilmington, Denver and Pittsburgh. <\/p>\n

\nWHITE NAMED TO ACC PRESEASON PLAYER TO WATCH LIST<\/p>\n


\n\tWake Forest senior Jeffrey White<\/a> has been named to the ACC Preseason Watch List, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced ahead of the 2026 men’s soccer season.
\n\tWhite enters his senior campaign following the most productive season of his Wake Forest career. The Tampa, Florida, native started 15 of 16 appearances in 2025, recording career highs with three goals and two assists for eight total points.\u00a0
\n\tWhite opened the 2025 season by scoring the game-winning goal in Wake Forest’s 2-1 victory over UCF with a phenomenal strike from just outside the box. He added goals against UNCW and Notre Dame while also recording assists against Lipscomb and North Carolina.\u00a0
\n\tA consistent contributor throughout his career, White has appeared in 57 matches entering his senior season, making 28 starts.\u00a0
\n\tAs a sophomore in 2024, White was one of just five Demon Deacons to appear in all 24 matches, tallying three assists while making 12 starts.
\n\tWhite made 17 appearances as a true freshman in 2023, scoring his first collegiate goal in a 5-1 victory over Robert Morris after making his collegiate debut in the season opener against Grand Canyon.\u00a0
\n\tIn addition to his on-field contributions, White was recently named one of Wake Forest’s three team captains for the 2026 season, earning the honor after emerging as one of the program’s most consistent leaders on and off the pitch over the last three seasons.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\nFAN INFORMATION

\nParking is encouraged in lots A, B, Q, W1 & W2.\u00a0A complete parking map of campus is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gates open one hour prior to kickoff for all home matches.\u00a0<\/p>\n

SEASON TICKET INFORMATION

\n2026 Wake Forest soccer season tickets are on-sale now<\/a> giving fans the opportunity to witness The Best Fan Experience In North Carolina from a number of unique seating options!<\/p>\n

Adult season tickets start as low as $75 for general admission and $55 for youth. Reserved chairbacks are $135 for adults and $115 for youth and Wake Forest University faculty and staff.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fans can catch all of Demon Deacon home action this fall as well by purchasing combo season tickets<\/a> to see both men’s and women’s soccer starting as low as $100 for general admission. Reserved chairbacks are $190 for adults and $150 for youth and Wake Forest University faculty and staff.<\/p>\n

Attendance on Walt Chyzowych Alumni Hill is free during all preseason and regular season action.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To order, visit GoDeacs.com\/Tickets or call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336.758.3322.\u00a0<\/p>\n

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION

\nWake Forest Athletics strives to provide content at games, social media and on GoDeacs.com that is accessible to all people. In the continued effort to improve accessibility of the technology and digital content at tomorrow’s game, fans can access closed captions here<\/a> for the public address announcer and in-venue content.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wake Forest Athletics is\u00a0 always open to learning about new ideas and ways we can improve. Please report accessibility challenges, identify content you find inaccessible, or give us general feedback at maddenr@wfu.edu.\u00a0<\/p>\n

LOOKING AHEAD

\nWake Forest will remain at home following the opener for a clash with VCU on Sunday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. The match will once again be streamed live on\u00a0ACCNX<\/a>.

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