In its last regular season game of the year, the NC State men’s soccer team fell to Clemson 3-0 Saturday evening on the road.
The Wolfpack (8-5-3, 2-4-2 ACC) has struggled away from home this season and Saturday’s game at Clemson (7-8-1, 2-6-0 ACC) was no different. Despite an undefeated record of 6-0-3 at home, the Wolfpack is just 2-5-0 away from Dail Soccer Stadium.
NC State was the better of the two teams early in the game, creating a few good goal-scoring opportunities. However, Clemson opened the scoring with 20 minutes left in the first half.
A defensive miscommunication saw Clemson’s Kimarni Smith go one-on-one with sophomore goalkeeper Leon Krapf. The forward needed only a single touch to lob the onrushing keeper to give Clemson the lead.
The Tigers took their 1-0 lead into halftime despite both teams creating a lot of good goal scoring opportunities. For Clemson many of those chances came on the counterattack, while the Wolfpack played a more patient possession style.
Despite the normal calm, cool and collectiveness of the Wolfpack defense on the ball, the Clemson press was very effective in rushing the Wolfpack defense into poor passes.
The Tigers doubled their advantage early in the second half through Andrew Burnikel. The midfielder got onto the end of a deep cross by Adrian Nunez and flicked the header up and over Krapf to put Clemson up by a score of 2-0.
Clemson nearly added a third but was stopped by an excellent reaction save by Krapf low and to his left.
Sophomore midfielder David Loera was close to pulling a goal back for the Wolfpack. The midfielder broke out on one of his trademark runs before his shot was saved by the Clemson keeper.
The Tigers added a third goal with 15 minutes left in the second half from a free kick. Robbie Robinson’s free kick was curled up and over the wall and then bounced right in front of Krapf making the shot difficult to read on the wet field.
Junior midfielder Gabriel Machado nearly scored on a free kick of his own to give the Wolfpack a consolation goal, forcing a good save from the Clemson keeper. Machado’s free kick was half cross half shot and forced the Tiger’s keeper into a backwards dive to keep the ball out of his net.
The game ended with a score of 3-0 giving the Wolfpack its fifth loss on the road this season.
The Wolfpack will be back in action on Wednesday in the ACC Tournament against an unannounced opponent.
