Roberts goal pushes Pack past Hokies for first ACC win

The No. 18 NC State men’s soccer team controlled No. 14 Virginia Tech Friday at Dail Soccer Stadium, picking up a 1-0 victory for its first ACC win of the season.

The Wolfpack’s (6-1, 1-1 ACC) lone goal came from senior forward Tanner Roberts, who headed in a bouncing cross in the 55th minute to secure the win over the Hokies (5-2-2, 0-2-1 ACC).

“Excellent performance,” head coach George Kiefer said. “We had a long time off, so you’re always concerned. But getting out and getting pressure on the ball was very good. Very solid performance. We had a few chances to get the second, and give their keeper credit he made some good saves, but overall very solid team performance.”

For NC State, the win came after a 10-day hiatus due to Hurricane Florence, as two games were postponed over the last week and a half.

“We’ve been itching to get back,” Roberts said. “Have an opponent other than ourselves, so we were up for this game. We were ready to get back on the field.”

NC State created a good opportunity to get the game’s first score in the 28th minute. Freshman defender Pepe Garcia dribbled to the top of the box and took the Pack’s first shot on goal, but it lined right into the hands of the Hokie goalkeeper Mathijs Swaneveld.

The play of the first half came from sophomore defender David Norris, who made a fantastic recovery to deny Virginia Tech of a surefire scoring opportunity. A Hokies forward slipped behind Norris with the ball, alone at the top of the 18-yard box with a clear path to goal. Norris recovered and made a perfectly timed sliding tackle to send the ball out of play, thwarting the scoring chance.

“As soon as I got behind the ball I knew I had to get back,” Norris said. “I got on my horse, and luckily I made a good save. I shouldn’t have made the mistake in the first place. Glad I recovered though.”

Nearing the end of the half, NC State’s sophomore midfielder David Loera made a perfect pass up to freshman forward Ivy Brisma on a fast break. Brisma made a move to get the goalie on the ground, but the open shot in the six-yard box was deflected by the Hokie goalkeeper, extinguishing the threat.

There were opportunities for both teams, but the first half ended scoreless.

“Tonight’s a great night for us,” Norris said. “I think we took great steps in having each other’s backs. The backline, someone was getting out with all of us putting bodies on the line to save each other.”

The Pack came out fighting in the second half. Loera got an open look within the first minute of the second half, but his shot was blocked by the keeper.

NC State stayed aggressive and in the 55th minute Roberts was the one to finally put one in the net. Roberts received the pass on a bounce from senior defender Simon Blotko who was set up near the sideline.

“It bounced in between their backline and their goalie,” Roberts said. “I think they were unsure of who was coming out and I stuck with it on the back post and it came right to me.”

This was Roberts’ first goal of the season. Last season, he scored four goals in eight matches, but missed the back half on the season with a leg injury.

“It feels amazing to be back,” Roberts said. “It’s been a while, so it feels really good.”

Junior midfielder Gabriel Machado narrowly extended the lead with 10 minutes remaining, but his effort was neutralized by an amazing diving save by Swaneveld. It set up an NC State corner kick, but the Pack was unable to convert on the opportunity.

Sophomore goalkeeper Leon Krapf came up with a save of his own in the 83rd minute when a bouncing ball was crushed by a Hokie attacker inside the box. Krapf was perfectly positioned and deflected it before Virginia Tech could get another touch.

NC State was able to hold off a couple pushes by the Hokies in the final five minutes to win its first ACC match of the year.

The Pack is back in action on Tuesday at Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. to make up last Friday’s game that was postponed by the hurricane.