October 22, 2019

 

RALEIGH – The 23rd-ranked NC State men’s soccer team (8-3-3) picked up a solid non-conference victory over Elon (6-8-1) Tuesday evening in Raleigh, defeating the Phoenix by a final score of 3-2 inside Dail Soccer Stadium.

 

After the teams played a scoreless first half, Elon found the back of the net twice in rapid succession (minutes 49 and 51) to take a 2-0 lead shortly after the start of the second half. NC State responded immediately, scoring goals in the 52nd, 58th, and 69th minutes to claim the win.

 

NC State outshot Elon by a 17-10 margin that included an 8-4 edge in shots on goal. The Wolfpack earned eight corners compared to six for Elon, and the two teams combined for a total of 25 fouls and seven cards in a highly-contested match. Elon’s Jeppe Jordoson—who scored the opening goal in the 49th minute—picked up his second yellow card of the evening in the 72nd, leaving the Phoenix to play down a man for the final 18 minutes while facing a 3-2 deficit.

 

Match Notes

-NC State leads the series with Elon 6-2-1.

-The Wolfpack is now 7-2-0 at home this season and 21-4-6 (.774) since the start of 2017.

-Elon’s goal in the 49th minute ended the Wolfpack’s 268-minute streak of not conceding.

 

Elon took its 1-0 lead following a turnover in the Wolfpack’s defensive area. Tuki Tayali played a gentle pass to Jeppe, who scored his first goal of the season with a well-placed finish inside the left post from 20 yards out. The Phoenix then doubled its lead just two minutes later when Sam Bacon scored straight from a corner kick.

 

Gabriel Machado scored his second goal of the season for the Wolfpack to halve the Elon lead in the 52nd minute. The senior sent in a dangerous free kick from 40 yards that bounced right at the six-yard box, but was not touched en route to finding the corner of the net, fooling goalkeeper Peter Wentzel, who ended the evening with five total saves.

 

Pepe Garcia scored a beautiful goal to even the match in the 58th minute. Ivy Brisma played a ball through to David Loera, who stopped on a dime just a few yards from goal and chipped in a perfect pass to the far post. Garcia continued his run and headed the cross straight into the open net.

 

Kuda Muskwe scored the match winner from a set piece in the 69th minute. Senior Tyler Gabarra curled a free kick inside the penalty area that Muskwe headed over Wentzel and into the back of the net. The goal was Muskwe’s team-leading fourth of the season and the assist was Gabarra’s team-leading fifth of the season.

 

NC State returns to Atlantic Coast Conference play on Saturday evening when it visits Syracuse. Kickoff between the Wolfpack and Orange is scheduled for 7 pm from the SU Soccer Stadium. Live streaming coverage will be provided by ACCNX.

 

#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer