Photo by Akron Zips Athletics

By AARON CRANFORD

Wake Forest continues to be tested to start its 2015 season, and Tuesday, it’ll face one strong attacking presence in SBI No. 9 Akron.

No. 8 Wake Forest was defeated and shut out for the first and only time this season last Tuesday, but the Demon Deacons rebounded against No. 25 Syracuse Saturday. Now, the North Carolina team will have to take down an Akron attack that has produced three goals in its last three games.

The Zips, led by Adam Najem and Sam Gainford, who have four goals apiece, will undoubtedly test the Demon Deacons’ back line, but its own defense will be tested as well. While scoring 14 goals so far this season, Akron has also allowed 13 goals. That statistic could quickly increase too, if the seventh-best goal-scoring team in the nation has anything to say about it.

On Wednesday, another Top 25 showdown kicks off at Shaw Field.

No. 15 Georgetown hosts No. 17 Maryland in a Big Ten battle that is sure to see some fireworks. After a draw and two losses to begin the 2015 campaign, the Hoyas have found a groove and have not lost in its last four matches. Georgetown did not score a single goal until its meeting with UCLA, and since then, it has scored 13.

The Terrapins, on the other hand, will be led by Mael Corboz, who is already on pace to have another eye-opening year. The star senior only has one goal this campaign, but he has four assists. Playing a more defensive role in the midfield, Corboz will try to continue providing against a Hoyas defense that has only produced one shutout in seven matches.

Here is a rundown of where all of the top teams will be playing this week:

MONDAY

7 p.m. – (2) North Carolina vs. North Florida

7 p.m. – VCU vs. (5) Virginia

7 p.m. – UAB vs. (10) Coastal Carolina

10 p.m. – UCLA vs. UC Santa Barbara

TUESDAY

5 p.m. – Michigan State vs. (4) Notre Dame

6 p.m. – Gonzaga vs. (18) Oregon State

7 p.m. – (9) Akron vs. (8) Wake Forest

7 p.m. – South Carolina vs. (13) Elon

7 p.m. – (25) Syracuse vs. Binghampton

7 p.m. – Xavier vs. Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW)

8 p.m. – (1) Creighton vs. Northern Illinois

WEDNESDAY

4 p.m. – (15) Georgetown vs. (17) Maryland

7:30 p.m. – (24) Indiana vs. Evansville

THURSDAY

10 p.m. – Seattle vs. (7) Washington

10 p.m. – UC Irvine vs. (23) Loyola Marymount