The Wolfpack fought back from an early one-goal deposit to earn a 2-2 tie with No. 10 Wake Forest at the Dail Soccer Park in Raleigh.

After going down 1-0, sophomore midfielder Philip Carmon equalized for the Wolfpack (4-3-3, 1-3-2 ACC) just before halftime. Freshman midfielder Michael

Bajza scored State’s second goal nine minutes after halftime to give the Pack a 2-1 lead.

“I’m really proud of the whole team with this performance,” senior goalkeeper Fabian Otte said. “We defended really well today and were very disciplined, and that was the key to our performance.”

But State couldn’t hold on to its advantage, surrendering two goals to junior forward Sean Okoli.

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t get a win,” head coach Kelly Findley said. “But some guys really stepped up and we’re growing a lot as a team which is good to see. Over the years, we would’ve lost a game like this so the maturity and the commitment was great.”

“I’m not happy about the tie, but I’ll definitely take it,” Otte said.

The tie is a positive result for the Wolfpack, following a dreadful road trip to Syracuse where the Pack lost 5-0 to the Orangemen. State’s next match comes on Friday at Duke. 

“This result for us, against a good team, is a big morale boost for us after a miserable trip to New York in the rain,” senior defender Ryan Metts said. “But we’re not content with this result, so we need to keep moving forward.”

The Demon Deacons started strongly, dominating possession with short, crisp passes. The Wolfpack hardly touched the ball until the 15th minute, but couldn’t find a way through Wake’s defense. 

Wake quickly re-asserted its supremacy, and took the lead in the 25th minute.

With his back to goal, junior forward Sean Okoli received a pass from senior midfielder Jared Watts. Okoli quickly turned and fired from the top of the box past a diving Otte to make it 1-0 for the Deacs 

But State fought back quickly, and almost equalized through Metts. Metts, who transferred to State from after playing his freshman season at Wake, latched onto a ball at midfield and fired a 30-yard rocket at goal.

His shot beat freshman goalkeeper Alec Ferrell, but hit the crossbar and bounced away from goal to the relief of the Deacs’ defense.

“I usually don’t get in those areas so it was kind of unusual for me,” Metts said. “When the ball bounced out to me, my eyes lit up and I hit it perfectly and as hard as I could, but it went a little too high and hit the crossbar.”

State scored its equalizer soon after. Senior midfielder Alex Martinez sent in a cross from the right wing and the initial shot deflected off a crowd of Wake defenders. The ball bounced around in the box until it fell to sophomore midfielder Philip Carmon, who quickly dispatched it into the Deacs’ net to tie the game, 1-1.

“Phil was great tonight,” Findley said. “He’s got so much pace, he’s so committed and he’s such a fit guy so I was pleased that he came on and really gave us a lift.”

The Wolfpack came out of halftime aggressively, immediately earning two corner kicks. 

The Pack took the lead in the 54th minute through freshman midfielder Michael Bajza. Freshman midfielder Travis Wannemuehler crossed to junior forward Nick Surkamp, whose shot was pushed wide by Ferrell.

But Ferrell’s save was pushed right into the path of the on-rushing Bajza, whose bouncing shot weaved past Wake’s defenders and into the net. Bajza’s second goal of the season gave the Wolfpack a 2-1 lead. 

Sophomore midfielder Holden Fender should have clinched the game for the Wolfpack in the 74th minute. After a Wake corner kick was cleared, the Pack  launched a counterattack and flew forward in attack mode.

Carman played Fender in on goal with a through ball, but the sophomore’s shot flew straight at Ferrell and made for an easy save.

State was punished for its wastefulness three minutes later. Junior midfielder Teddy Mullin crossed in to Okoli, who powerfully headed past Otte to equalize.

Wake kept the momentum following its goal, but some desperate defending from the Wolfpack kept the Deacs at bay and forced overtime.

State wasted a glorious chance in extra time on a Surkamp volley off a DiPrima cross. Surkamp fired his shot from six yards out directly at a charging Ferrell, who saved easily.

“We put the ball across the face of their goal in overtime when we have our player in the right spot,” Findley said. “I think we should’ve won the game really.” 

Otte was the Pack’s top performer in extra time, making a reflex save with 20 seconds remaining in the first overtime to preserve the deadlock.

“Thankfully, Fabi got to that ball,” Metts said. “Wake passes the ball really well and they’re bound to get chances, so we needed a big time save from Fabi and we got it.”