The N.C. State men’s soccer team closed its season last Friday night with a 1-0 overtime win on the road against No. 20 UNC-Chapel Hill. Senior midfielder Nazmi Albadawi provided the game-winning goal in the 92nd minute. The win against the Tar Heels gave the Wolfpack (8-5-4, 3-3-1 ACC) a chance to make the ACC Tournament, but State barely missed out as other teams won games to inch ahead of the Pack in the standings. 

N.C. State now awaits word from the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship’s selection committee regarding the Wolfpack’s status for the upcoming tournament. The committee will announce tournament selections Monday at noon. The first and second rounds of the 48-team knockout tournament will be played on Nov. 21 and Nov. 24.

The Wolfpack finished its season with a massive bang, winning four of its final five matches. State, ranked No. 38 in the nation, is also undefeated in matches against nonconference opponents, including a 2-1 overtime win at No. 10 William and Mary. 

State’s strength of schedule could prove a deciding factor in the eyes of the selection committee. The Pack has played six games against teams ranked inside the top 30 and has earned a respectable 2-2-2 record in these games. The Wolfpack has also played nine of its 17 total games against teams ranked inside the nation’s top 60 teams.

Head coach Kelly Findley’s squad earned a 3-3 tie at No. 13 Virginia and fought to a 2-2 draw against No. 14 Wake Forest. The Pack was without Albadawi, its second-leading goal scorer and key playmaker, for the Wake Forest match due to injury. 

The senior was out for a month in the middle of the season with a high ankle sprain, but returned to give the Pack a key boost at the end of the year. State is 7-3-2 with Albadawi in the starting lineup, compared to 1-2-2 without the Raleigh native.

The Pack’s leading goal scorer, junior forward Nick Surkamp, was out last season with a knee injury. Surkamp had difficulty finding the back of the net early in the year, but found his scoring touch as the season progressed, scoring in four of State’s final five matches.

Senior midfielder Alex Martinez, the Pack’s leading goal scorer in 2012, embraced his new role as provider this season. Martinez led the Pack in assists, finishing the year with eight. 

Albadawi and Surkamp played key roles in State’s red-hot close to its season, giving the Pack a solid chance to make the NCAA Championships.