September 20, 2019

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The NC State men’s soccer team (4-2-1, 1-1-0 ACC) endured its first Atlantic Coast Conference defeat of the season on Friday evening, falling 2-0 at fifth-ranked Virginia (6-0-0, 2-0-0 ACC) inside Klockner Stadium.

Senior goalkeeper Vincent Durand made three saves on the evening and NC State out-shot the Cavaliers 4-1 during the final 10 minutes of the match while trailing by just one goal, but the hosts earned the victory on the strength of a goal in the 42nd minute by Daryl Dike and a successful penalty by Joe Bell in the 90th.

Durand wasn’t tested until the 25th minute, and he came up big on the Cavaliers’ first attempt on target. UVA’s Bell fired a low shot towards the goal that took an unpredictable deflection, but Durand went to ground to make an important stop.

Virginia took the lead in the 42nd minute when Dike recorded a sliding finish from six yards out after teammate Robin Afamefuna sent in a left-footed cross from outside the area. Dike nearly scored his second of the evening just two minutes later, but Durand made a very good save on his powerful shot from 10 yards away.

NC State out-shot Virginia 4-1 during the final ten minutes of the match, nearly finding the equalizer late in the contest. Jamie Smith headed a corner kick delivery just over the bar in the 81st minute; Kuda Muskwe got on the end of a cross and nodded his attempt high in the 85th minute, and Pablo Pedregosa had possibly the best chance of the evening for NC State, heading a corner kick delivery just inches wide of the left post in the 87th minute. Gabrile Machado also had a shot on frame in the 89th minute, but Colin Shutler made the save.

Virginia was able to double its lead in the 90th minute after a foul inside NC State’s penalty area resulted in Bell’s successful penalty kick.

NC State is back in action when it visits Louisville on Friday, Sept. 27. Kickoff from Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 pm with live streaming coverage provided by ACCNX.

#GoPack // @PackMensSoccer

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