For the first time since 1994, the NC State men’s soccer team won an NCAA Tournament game as the Pack beat Campbell 4-1 on a cold, rainy Thursday night at Dail Soccer Stadium.
The Wolfpack (10-6-3) blew things open in the second half, scoring three unanswered goals to shut down the Camels (9-9-3) in NC State’s first home tournament game since 2009. In just its second season under head coach George Kiefer, the Pack has found more success than it had in the 25 years before he arrived. With its appearance in this year’s NCAA Tournament, the Wolfpack has made the big dance in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1991-92.
“First day I laid foot on this campus, that was the first achievement that we had to get through,” sophomore defender David Norris said. “Tonight is a big night for us. Very excited for the entire team. It was a team effort and I’m happy we pulled through.”
Norris opened the scoring for NC State, while sophomore midfielder Brad Sweeney scored the game-winner from the penalty spot in the second half. Junior midfielder Gabriel Machado added two insurance goals for the Pack quickly after Sweeney’s tally, with the three goals taking place within six minutes of each other.
Campbell kept with NC State for the first 65 minutes of the game and tied things at 1-1 in the 62nd minute on a goal from Alemu Mercer-Miko. However, the Pack proved to be too much to handle for the Big South champions.
“We knew that the game would be tough,” Machado said. “Especially because of the weather. Today was all mental. I think with the cold and the rain we knew that the game will be tough. In the second half, we tried to go forward and try some shots on the goal because the floor was wet and the goalkeeper would struggle to get the ball.”
Norris notched the first official goal of his career to open up the scoring just before halftime, heading home a great ball from freshman Ivy Brisma shortly after a Wolfpack corner kick.
“It was excellent,” Norris said. “I felt really happy to get my first goal, especially in a game like this. At the same time, Ivy with an excellent play on the wing to get that ball back in, so credit to him. But yeah I was happy.”
The Camels stuck with NC State, and the effort paid off as Campbell was able to tie things up on a great finish from Mercer-Miko that beat Wolfpack sophomore goalkeeper Leon Krapf.
However, it didn’t take long for the Pack to put Campbell away, as Sweeney scored his fifth goal of the season on a penalty kick. The foul that earned the Wolfpack the penalty came shortly after another NC State corner kick. Sweeney is second on the team in goals, with all five coming from either direct free kicks or penalties.
Machado scored his first goal of the game just two minutes after Sweeney’s, smoothly finishing a great assist from Brisma. Machado’s second goal was a special one, as he scored directly from a corner kick. Machado hit a curler from the corner flag that found its way past Campbell’s goalie and into the back of the net. It is something that Machado says he has done before when he was growing up in Brazil.
Machado has played most of the season as a midfielder but has done a great job of finding chances on net. Kiefer moved him up into a more attacking position for Thursday’s game, and it paid off. The junior college transfer now leads the team with six goals.
“He is the leading goal scorer and just to get him nearer to the goal,” Kiefer said. “I wish it was good coaching, but okay the guy with the most goals put near the goal. He scores goals.”
The Pack will now move onto the second round of the NCAA Tourney for the first time in 24 years, as NC State will travel to take on No. 11 Maryland Sunday afternoon. For the Wolfpack, Thursday night marked another big step for a program trending in the right direction.
“I thought it was important to win tonight,” Kiefer said. “To be going to Maryland with a chance to be playing in the Sweet 16. For sure, we’ve taken it a step further.”
