The NC State men’s club soccer team recently completed a successful season and will compete in the regional tournament in Jacksonville this weekend with the goal of qualifying for nationals. 

The club team finished with an overall record of 5-1-3, its only loss coming against Alabama in late September while competing in a tournament at Clemson. 

Two notable results came against UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke, ranked No. 2 and No. 3 at the time respectively, and the team tied both schools 1-1. 

The team was ranked ninth heading into the final two games of the season. The team faced ECU and Davidson during the weekend of Oct. 16 and won 1-0 and 3-0. With regionals right around the corner, the team guaranteed its spot by ending the season with an exclamation point. If the team does well in the regional tournament, it will have a chance to qualify for nationals.

Aside from competition, the team has been looking to grow in other areas to help build an identity. One of these areas is community service, something the team hasn’t focused on for the past few years.

The team receives funding from University Recreation, which covers team gear, lodging and transportation. In order to increase this funding, an effort has to be made by the club to actively participate in assisting the community. 

Junior Christian Hall, the team’s goalkeeper, is also the community service chair for the club, a position that has not existed during the past few years. As chair, he is looking to spark change and get the team more involved with service. He has already set up a partnership with Capital Area Soccer League with the overall goal of starting a youth camp.

This is one of the ways the team is looking to create a sense of community, something that has already been established as an important part of playing for the club.

“The experience has been great,” Hall said. “The first few weeks obviously you’re nervous, you’re meeting a bunch of new guys, but everyone was really nice. Everyone treats you like family. I’ve been searching for the right group, and I found it with this team.” 

With only the tournament remaining, the club season is about to come to an end. However, the team holds spring tryouts for much longer than the fall. 

“We have tryouts both semesters,” Hall said. “If you don’t make it one year, don’t think you’re not good enough. Always come back. There are so many good people that get cut, just because we don’t have enough time to see them in the fall. In the spring, we have two weeks to look at everyone.”