The N.C. State men’s soccer team started last season red hot, going 6-0 out of the gate heading into a clash with No. 1 Maryland in Raleigh. The Wolfpack fell to the Terrapins 3-2, and the season was never quite the same. State won just four games the rest of the way, finishing 10-10 and missing out on an NCAA Tournament bid.
This season, third-year (hyphenate the compound modifier of “head coach”) head coach Kelly Findley’s goal is to do exactly what last year’s team couldn’t.
“My goal for this team is to make the NCAA Tournament,” Findley said. “And I think we have the team that can do it.”
Findley isn’t the only one who thinks highly of the Wolfpack’s personnel. Top Drawer Soccer ranked the Wolfpack’s most recent recruiting class 16th in the nation, and College Soccer News ranked it 18th.
The name that stands out most of this year’s class is forward Travis Wannemuehler, ranked as the No. 33 overall recruit by College Soccer News. A native of Evansville, Ind., Wannemuehler was a member of the United States U-18 team before coming to Raleigh.
Wannemuehler cited his rapport with the coaching staff and older Wolfpack players as a main reason for his commitment to State.
“I had a very good relationship with the staff and team here,” Wannemuehler said. “I think being part of a team that has something to prove is very exciting.”
High school soccer players commit much earlier than their counterparts from the revenue sports.
“We’re seeing them quite a bit during their sophomore and junior years of high school,” Findley said. “Most of our players are committed by the end of their junior year, if not earlier.”
Another standout in this year’s class is midfielder Roland Minogue. The Huntersville, N.C., native was named the 2012 Greater Charlotte Soccer Player of the Year and led Charlotte Catholic High School to a 66-7-4 record during his career. He scored 74 career goals and added 42 assists in those 77 games.
Like Wannemuehler, Minogue said he was taken aback by how close State players are to one another.
“The family atmosphere and the culture here is so much different from other schools,” Minogue said, “I feel like we’re going to have a really special year.”
In addition to Wannemuehler and Minogue, the Pack seven other freshmen for this season. They include midfielder Michael Bajza, midfielder Yanni Hachem, defenseman Michael Hinkson, defenseman Connor White, goalkeeper Jonathan Davis, defenseman Davis Robinson and midfielder Davi Ramos. Two transfers, midfielder Holden Fender from UCLA and defenseman Clement Simonin from Division II Lander University, round out the newcomers.
“We have a big challenge ahead of us,” Findley said. “The ACC is the best conference in the country for men’s soccer.”
College Soccer News clearly agrees with Findley’s assessment. Out of the top 10 recruiting classes in the nation, four belong to ACC schools. They include No. 2 Virginia, No. 3 Maryland, No. 6 UNC-Chapel Hill and No. 9 Wake Forest. Also ahead of the Wolfpack is No. 14 Boston College. The Pack came in ahead of four ACC foes—No. 19 Notre Dame, No. 22 Duke, No. 33 Syracuse and No. 40 Clemson.
“The opportunity to play in the ACC was a factor [in my commitment] as well.” Wannemuehler said.
“We always try to get top-character guys,” Findley said. “Guys who are committed, guys who are driven, guys who are up to the challenge. We’re trying to change where N.C. State has been in the past 20 years.”
The Wolfpack will take on UNC-Wilmington in an exhibition at home on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Dail Soccer Stadium.
