The NC State men’s soccer team defeated Wright State 4-2 Tuesday night at Dail Soccer Stadium in Raleigh.
After tightly contested first half, NC State was able to pull away from the Raiders to close out the match. The Pack improves to 3-6-0 and the Raiders fall to 6-4-0.
“I thought it was a good team effort,” head coach Kelly Findley said. “We created the chances by moving the ball well, getting in the right spots and playing through each other.”
The Wolfpack found itself down early after an 11th minute goal by the Raiders. Wright State forward Peguy Ngatcha shot a ball that deflected off an NC State defender and found the feet of Eric Lynch, who put it past senior Wolfpack goalkeeper Alex McCauley to put the Raiders up 1-0.
NC State evened up the score in the 18th minute with a goal from sophomore Julius Duchscherer, his third for the season. The score was assisted by sophomore Simon Blotko, who crossed it in to Duchscherer. The cross pulled Wright State goalie Joel Sundell off his line, and Duchscherer tapped the ball into the open net, tying the game 1-1.
In the 22nd minute, the Wolfpack pulled ahead when Duchscherer connected again for his fourth goal of the year, a shot from just outside the box past Sundell to make the score 2-1. Sophomore Tanner Roberts and redshirt sophomore Nick Retzlaff connected on consecutive passes to Duchscherer and were credited with assists.
“I think Julius is capable of scoring all the time,” Findley said. “He just took his chances really well.”
The score was evened once again in the 26th minute. A Wright State corner kick appeared to be caught by keeper Alex McCauley, but was dropped and found the feet of Raider midfielder AJ Patterson, who was able to shoot it past McCauley for the score, making the match 2-2.
The Pack was able to regain the lead in the 36th minute. Sophomore Clayton Sparks received a right side cross from senior Travis Wannemuehler and connected on a header that went off the keeper Sundell’s feet and into the back of the net for his second goal of the season, making the score 3-2 in favor of NC State. Retzlaff was also credited with his second assist of the night.
The score remained 3-2 as the game entered halftime.
NC State extended their lead in the 74th minute on a goal by freshman Jan-Luca Ahillen, the first of his career. After Wright State keeper Sundell deflected a shot by Sparks, the ball came right to Ahillen who rocketed it over the head of Sundell to put the Wolfpack up 4-2.
Neither side scored for the remainder of the match, as the score held at 4-2.
The Wolfpack, after beginning the season 1-5, has now won two of its last three matches, including back-to-back games at home.
“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” Findley said. “We kind of pushed the reset button last week.”
NC State will take on conference rival Duke Friday at Dail Soccer Stadium.
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Alex McCauley takes a free kick during the NC State vs. Wright State game on Tuesday night at Dali Soccer Stadium. McCauley played the entire 90 minutes, letting in only two shots in NC State's 4-2 win over Wright State.
