October 31, 2018

 

RALEIGH – The NC State men’s soccer team picked up a clutch postseason victory at Dail Soccer Stadium on Wednesday evening, defeating visiting Boston College 3-1 in the first round of the 2018 ACC Tournament.

 

Postgame Notes

-The victory marked NC State’s first postseason win since the 2011 season and the Wolfpack’s first season of nine or more wins since 2012.

-NC State is 2-0-0 against Boston College in ACC Tournament matches.

-The Wolfpack remains an unbeaten 7-0-3 in Raleigh this season.

-NC State outshot Boston College 14-7 in the win.

-The teams combined for 45 fouls and eight yellow cards in a physical contest.

 

NC State (9-4-3) never trailed in the match, pulling out to an early lead in the 10th minute with sophomore Brad Sweeney’s fourth set-piece goal of the season. The Wolfpack generated multiple chances to double its advantage later in the first half, but Boston College was able to turn each one aside.

 

The Eagles leveled the match against the run of play in the 62nd minute when Abe Bibas rose up for a strong header from close range after a well-placed cross by teammate Heidar Aegisson. NC State answered just nine minutes later when Pepe Garcia and Gabriel Machado assisted on a terrific goal by David Loera. Garcia carried the ball through the middle of the field and found Machado on the left wing, who curled in a cross to a streaking Loera. The sophomore’s first-time strike wrongfooted Boston College goalkeeper Chavez Borrelli and ended up inside the left post to make it 2-1 in favor of the Wolfpack.

 

NC State put the match out of reach in the 88th minute when freshman Alex Bautista scored the first goal of his career a mere 20 seconds after taking the field for the first time in the match. Loera started a magnificent counterattack 80 yards from goal with a chip up the field to Sweeney. The sophomore dribbled 30 yards through the midfield while fending off multiple defenders to find Bautista open inside the penalty area. The freshman struck a left-footed shot with his first touch of the evening past Borrelli and inside the far post.

 

With the win, NC State will play at national No. 1 Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal round on Sunday afternoon at 1 pm.

 

#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer