Things couldn’t be going better for the NC State men’s soccer team to start the season, as the undefeated Pack is soaring up national rankings and garnering respect the program isn’t too familiar with.
The Wolfpack (4-0) is off to its best start since 2012, an even more impressive feat considering head coach George Kiefer is in just his second year. People outside the program are starting to pay attention as well. NC State is ranked No. 4 in the country by Top Drawer Soccer and No. 8 in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
The Wolfpack was also named the Team of the Week by Top Drawer Soccer. In addition to the team award, junior forward Gabriel Machado was named the national player of the week by Top Drawer and the ACC Player of the Week after scoring game-winning goals in games against Akron and Presbyterian.
Now NC State will move onto its hardest test of the young season, as it travels west to take on No. 1 Wake Forest (4-0) in the Pack’s first ACC matchup of the season. Wake Forest fell in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament last season, and is strong once again.
The Deacs are led by Bruno Lapa, who is off to an incredibly hot start this season. Lapa has already tallied 14 points through just four games, scoring five goals and assisting four more. Stopping Lapa will be key to the Pack’s success, but he isn’t the only scoring threat. Justin McMaster is also racking up the goals, having scored three already.
Experienced goalie Andreu Cases Mundet minds the net for Wake, and he isn’t easy to score on. The Pack’s offensive attack has looked potent early this season, led by Machado’s two goals. A number of other weapons have helped spark the Pack’s offense.
The biggest issue for NC State, heading into the game at Wake Forest, will be the absence of superstar sophomore forward Manny Perez. Perez was the ACC Freshman of the Year last season, and is typically sparking most of the Pack’s chances from his spot on the right wing.
The consistently strong play from Perez has earned him a spot on the under-20 United States Youth National Team. Perez will join the U.S. starting Friday, for games against Venezuela and Jamaica. While his call-up to the team is a big honor, it will mean the Pack will have to take on the mighty Demon Deacons without its best player.
NC State already has impressive wins under Kiefer, including its win over Akron earlier this year, but Wake Forest is another animal. If the Pack can win this game, it would solidify itself as a power much earlier than anyone could have expected. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Spry Soccer Stadium in Winston-Salem.
