CONWAY, Ark. – The men's soccer team hits the road for the first time this season to face off against a top-15 ranked Wake Forest squad on Sunday. Kicking off at 6 p.m. CT, it marks the first of several ranked opponents for the Bears this season.
 
The Bears started their season 1-0 after defeating NAIA Evangel on Thursday. Three Bears scored goals against the Valor, two of which were making their debut in Purple and Gray. Senior Sohma Ichikawa notched the first goal in the third minute, punching in the lone goal of the half. Matheo Francou and Keiji Nakazawa both scored in the second half, elevating the Bears to the 3-0 victory.
 
Wake Forest is the first ACC school the Bears will play since facing Virginia in 2021. Central Arkansas is no stranger to facing soccer powerhouses, though, regularly playing one of the toughest schedules in the country. Sunday will be no different, as United Soccer Coaches ranked Wake Forest No. 15 in their preseason poll.
 
After finishing last season 11-3-5, the Demon Deacons didn't start their 2024 like they wanted to, dropping their opener to VCU on Thursday. The 2-1 loss started promising, with a Wake Forest goal in the 21^st minute, but the Rams equalized just a few minutes later before scoring the game-winner in the 83^rd minute.
 
Sunday's match is set for 6 p.m. CT out in Winston-Salem, and will be streamed on the ACC Network Extra. Live stats will also be available online.