November 21, 2019

 

RALEIGH – Making its third consecutive NCAA Championship appearance for the first time since the 1985-87 seasons, the NC State men’s soccer team (9-7-3) endured a narrow double-overtime defeat to Coastal Carolina (10-7-3) by a final score of 3-2 Thursday evening inside Dail Soccer Stadium.

 

In a thrilling match that featured a combined five goals and 29 shots (17 on target), NC State outshot Coastal Carolina by an 18-11 margin. The Wolfpack was led by terrific offensive performances from sophomores David Loera (two goals on six shots) and Kuda Muskwe (one assist and seven shots). Loera came within inches of scoring two additional goals that would have undoubtedly changed the outcome of the match, hitting the crossbar in the 48th and 84th minutes to go along with his goals in the 22nd and 74th minutes.

 

NC State senior goalkeeper Vincent Durand tied a career high with five saves in the match. Coastal Carolina goalkeeper Alberto Ciroi had a very strong evening for the visitors, making six saves to earn the win.

 

Loera gave the Wolfpack a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute when he capitalized on a spilled rebound. Senior Tyler Gabarra played in a dangerous cross that Ciroi had difficulty handling. The rebound fell to Loera, who patiently waited for a good bounce before striking it first-time inside the left post.

 

Coastal Carolina answered in the 37th minute on an impressive direct free kick from Emile Rzepecki. The freshman bent his 22-yard free kick around the Wolfpack wall and just inside the right post to pull the match level at 1-1.

 

The Chanticleers scored their second goal of the evening on another set piece, this time in the 64th minute. With a free kick just outside the penalty area, Tyrone Mondi found teammate Kasper Skraep at the far post. Skraep directed a header across the face of goal and just inside the left post to make it 2-1.

 

NC State tied the match in the 74th minute on a brilliant team effort. Brad Sweeney crossed a long pass to Muskwe, who nodded the ball into the path of Loera. The junior scored his fifth goal of the season (ninth of his career) from an extremely difficult angle at the edge of the six-yard box with another first-time strike.

 

Ivy Brisma and George Asomani each had opportunities to put the match away in the first overtime period, but Ciroi made key saves in the 97th and 100th minutes to deny the Wolfpack a win in overtime. The Chanticleers were able to take advantage of their best opportunity in the overtime periods, as Mondi scored on a breakaway in the 104th minute after a Wolfpack turnover.

 

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