September 27, 2019

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The NC State men’s soccer team (5-2-1, 2-1-0 ACC) picked up a massive road win on Friday evening at 17th-ranked Louisville (4-2-2, 1-1-1 ACC), defeating the Cardinals by a final score of 2-1 inside Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium.

 

The Wolfpack took a 2-0 lead in the first half on goals from Ivy Brisma (40’) and Tyler Gabarra (45’). Emil Elveroth (84’) pulled one back for the hosts late in the second half and NC State goalkeeper Vincent Durand made a diving save in the 89th minute to preserve all three points for his team.

 

Match Notes

-Prior to Friday’s match, the Cardinals had allowed just one goal in 378 minutes.

-The victory was NC State’s second consecutive win on the road in the series with Louisville, as the Wolfpack defeated the fifth-ranked Cardinals by a final score of 3-2 on Oct. 21, 2017.  

-Friday’s win was NC State’s sixth against ranked opponents since the beginning of the 2017 season.

-NC State now leads the series 4-2-2 and is 2-0-1 all-time in matches played at Louisville.

-NC State head coach George Kiefer’s teams are 2-0-1 against Louisville, with all three matches coming against ranked Cardinals teams.

 

Aside from a Kino Ryosuke shot in the 36th minute that forced a solid save from Durand, NC State controlled much of the play in the first half. The Wolfpack’s pressure paid off for the first time in the 40th minute when Brisma ran the entire length of the field on a counter immediately following a Louisville corner kick and beat goalkeeper Jake Gelnovatch low and to the far post to make it 1-0.

 

Gabarra doubled the Wolfpack’s lead just moments later, scoring a beautifully curled left-footed shot from 17 yards past the outstretched Gelnovatch and inside the far post. Immediately following a Wolfpack throw-in, Gabarra stole the ball from a Louisville defender and beat another man before recording his highlight-reel goal.

 

Louisville pulled one goal back in the 84th minute when Elveroth scored from very close range following assists from Dieye and Hirschman. The Cardinals nearly drew level in the 89th minute on a low Elijah Amo shot that was destined just inside the far post, but Durand made a terrific save to preserve the full three points for the Wolfpack.

 

NC State returns to action on Friday, Oct. 4 when Notre Dame visits Raleigh. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm from Dail Soccer Stadium with live national television coverage provided by the ACC Network. The match will serve as NC State’s Alumni Weekend and as a tribute to recently-passed former head coach George Tarantini. It will also be the first-ever NCAA men’s soccer match to recognize the Set the Expectation movement, which combats sexual and physical violence by encouraging coaches, young men, and boys to become part of the solution.

 

#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer