Wake Forest - (Four And A Half  Star Class Ranking) - Jay Vidovich has added a very solid and well rounded eight member recruiting class that features NSCAA High School All-American midfielder Ben Newnam from Kernersville, North Carolina and defender Anthony Arena from Kenmore, Washington who is a member of the U.S. U-20 National Team.   Late addition, midfielder Andy Lubahn from Erie, Pennsylvania who trained with Cercle Brugge of the Belgium Jupiler League could be an impact player.  It is an impressive class but one that does not have as high a profile as several of Wake Forest’s recent classes.  The fact that the Demon Deacons will likely enter the 2009 season as a highly ranked team despite losing an eight member 2008 senior class that was 74-15-9 during their tenure in Winston Salem speaks volumes about what Vidovich and his staff have accomplished.  Despite huge losses to graduation that include forward Marcus Tracy (13g, 10a), midfielders Sam Cronin (10g, 4a), Jamie Franks (3g, 11a), and Michael Lahoud (0g, 5a), and defenders Lyle Adams (3g, 3a) and Evan Brown (2g, 8a), the traits that have made Wake Forest the dominant team in college soccer over the past three seasons will be evident again in 2009.  Specifically a possession oriented attack that is able to find and quickly exploit the weaknesses of opponents and a defense that is well organized, athletic, and quick.  The one factor though that may not be easily replaced is the mental toughness, confidence, and drive that the departed seniors brought to the program.  The graduation of Tracy means that the Deacons will lose the centerpiece of their attack.  The former Hermann Trophy winner and consensus First Team All-American was lightning fast and had the big play ability to take over a game.  However, with seniors Cody Arnoux (17g, 8a) and Zack Schilawski (11g, 5a) returning up-top the Wake Forest offense will still pack a lot of sizzle.  Arnoux and Schilawski should be among the most explosive forward duos in the country in 2009.  The Wake Forest midfield will require some rebuilding heading into the 2009 campaign.  The 2009 season will mark the first time in a long time that the Deacons have not had Cronin on the pitch to anchor the midfield.  Cronin exhausted his eligibility after starting every game during his four year stay in Winston-Salem.  Nonetheless, the Deacon midfield should be very good if for no reason other than the return of junior linkman Corben Bone (7g, 17a).  The silky-smooth and hard working Bone may be the best midfielder in the collegiate ranks in 2009.  Senior Austin da Luz (3g, 8a) is among returning midfielders who will likely have the opportunity to play an even greater role than in the past.  Others who should be in the mix in the midfield include sophomores Luke Norman (3g, 1a), Sam Redmond (1g, 2a), and Chris Estridge.   College Soccer News First Team All-American and 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Ike Opara (5g, 0a) returns to anchor the Deacon backline along with sophomore Danny Wenzel who was a College Soccer News 2008 First-Team All-Freshman selection.   Other returning defenders include seniors Justin Lichtfuss and Nick Courtney and sophomores Nick Milligan and Kyle Adams.  Senior Akira Fitzgerald from Baltimore, Maryland returns in goal.  Last year Fitzgerald recorded thirteen clean sheets and had a goals against average of 0.63.  It seems reasonable to conclude that the Demon Deacons will experience some growing pains in 2009.  The extent of those growing pains will likely be determined to a large degree by the effectiveness of the sophomore class.  All things considered Wake Forest will not be as strong from top to bottom as they have been for the past three seasons but nonetheless they should still be among the top teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference and will contend for a top ten national ranking.   

 

Anthony  Arena - Kenmore, Washington - Defender - Inglemoor High School - Played club for Crossfire - Member of the U.S. U-18 and U-20 National Teams.  Outstanding athletic ability.

 

Luciano Delbono - Winston-Salem, North Carolina - Midfielder - R.J. Reynolds High School - Named Conference Player of the Year - Member of North Carolina ODP team .

 

Gimel Gordon - Lawrenceville, Georgia - Midfielder - Grayson High School - Led high school team in goals and assists - Played for GSA Phoenix Red ‘91 -   All-County selection.

 

Michael Lisch - Austin, Texas - Goalkeeper - Westlake High School - Played for the South Texas ODP team - Named District MVP - Played for Lonestar Soccer Club.

 

Will Mayhew - Concord, North Carolina - Defender - Jay M. Robinson High School - Member of the U.S. U-18 National Team  Player Pool - Named to North Carolina Coaches All-State Team.

 

Ben Newnam - Kernersville, North Carolina - Midfielder - East Forsyth High School -  Named North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year - NSCAA High School All-American.  Region III ODP.

 

Sean Randolph - Chino Hills, California - Forward - Ruben S. Ayala High School - Played club for CZ Elite -  Left-footed player who is an excellent athlete and playmaker.  

 

Andy Lubahn - Erie, Pennsylvania - Midfielder - Cathedral Prep - Has played with multiple U.S. National Teams - Trained with Cercle Brugge in Belgium.  Played with Columbus Crew U-17.