John Joyner
Senior midfielder Alex Martinez drives down the pitch during soccer match against Boston College at Dail Soccer Field Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2013. The Wolfpack fell to the Eagles 2-1. Photo by John Joyner.
N.C. State begins a crucial portion of its season Friday with a huge matchup against Virginia Tech in Raleigh. The match will undoubtedly be the most important of State’s season.
The Wolfpack (5-4-4, 1-4-3 ACC) must win at least two of its remaining three ACC games to have any realistic shot of making the ACC Tournament.
Only the conference’s top eight teams make the end-of-year tournament. This is a problem for the Wolfpack as it currently lies in 11th place, having earned six points in conference play.
But despite its indifferent results this season, State is more than capable of sneaking into the ACC Tournament.
Only two points separate the eighth place team, Virginia Tech, from the Wolfpack in 11th place. Incidentally, both teams meet Friday for the Pack’s final home ACC clash of the season.
Friday night’s victor will gain three crucial points and the inside track for entry into the ACC Tournament. A win for the Wolfpack could potentially see State leap to eighth place in the conference standings. A loss all but eliminates it from ACC Tournament contention with difficult away matches at No. 16 Maryland and No. 22 UNC-Chapel Hill looming.
Both teams enter Friday’s showdown with momentum, with each picking up 2-0 wins on Tuesday night. The Pack used goals from junior forward Nick Surkamp and senior midfielder Alex Martinez to down Liberty, while the Hokies beat Virginia Military Institute in its penultimate home match of the year.
Virginia Tech (4-4-5, 1-2-5) will play just its fourth away match this season Friday against N.C. State. Tech is still searching for its first away win of the year.
N.C. State head coach Kelly Findley will count on a disciplined defensive performance to defeat the Hokies. State’s defense is in fine form, helping senior goalkeeper Fabian Otte notch his 12th career shutout on Tuesday against Liberty.
The Wolfpack will also receive much-needed reinforcements in the midfield for Friday’s clash. Senior midfielders Nazmi Albadawi and Jorge Risquez should both be available for selection on Friday.
Albadawi, the Pack’s leading goal scorer in 2011, has been out since the beginning of October with a foot injury. The senior could slot into his traditional position at the top of a midfield triangle, where he traditionally orchestrates the Wolfpack’s attack.
Senior midfielder Danny DiPrima has filled in admirably for the injured Albadawi. DiPrima, traditionally a more defensive-minded midfielder, has injected pace and power into State’s attack and applied relentless defensive pressure, allowing the Wolfpack to dominate possession of the ball.
The return of Risquez, who has featured primarily in defense this season, gives State a more attack-minded option at the right back position. Findley now has the tactical luxury to choose between the attacking prowess of Risquez or the defensive solidity senior defender Ryan Metts has provided.
The Wolfpack leads the overall series against the Hokies, 13-6-1, including a 7-2 record in Raleigh. But in their most recent meeting, the Hokies beat the Pack 3-2 in the first round of last year’s ACC Tournament to end State’s season.