Although the scoreboard read 4-1 at the end of its game, the men’s soccer team never actually scored a goal in its opening-round loss at the ACC Tournament at SAS Soccer Park in Cary on Tuesday.
No. 8 seed Virginia (11-6-2) held No. 9 seed N.C. State (6-9-3) scoreless for more than 80 minutes in the game until an Orry Powers free kick was accidentally headed into the Cavaliers’ net by a Virginia defender.
The Cavaliers capitalized on several State errors, converting two penalty kicks, and will now advance to the quarterfinals to face No. 1 seed Boston College.
Senior forward El Hadj Cisse said the team played “pretty good” despite its defensive showing in the contest.
“We made mistakes that have happened all season long,” he said. “We just gave the ball to the opponent to score, that’s what happened today.”
Several starters were absent from the lineup, so the Pack cleared its bench to field a team. Starting sophomore forward Alan Sanchez, the team’s points leader, did not play due to a fifth yellow card he received in the previous game against Duke. Former starting midfielder Jorge Mora was not present, and senior defender Hugh Cronin could not play due to a calf contusion he received in the game against the Blue Devils.
Coach George Tarantini was upset about the captain’s inability to contribute for the final game of his career.
“Hugh has played every single minute for the last four years,” he said. “He wanted to play today, but no matter what, I could not let him play. We had two different defenders [in the game] with no preparation and no [experience in] games.”
Cisse said the team’s organization suffered as a result of the inexperience of several players on the field. He “missed” the players that weren’t able to play and compared the situation to the loss of a sibling.
“It’s like when you are used to playing with your little brother, but he’s not around because he left,” he said. “So now you’ve got nobody to play with, and that’s what happened.”
For a team that started off the year with a 2-2 tie in its exhibition game against No. 1 UCLA, Cisse said the results of the season have been disappointing.
“We were supposed to play better this year,” Cisse said. “We have all this talent. Everything has been going wrong. It started with problems with the soccer field, and then we had all these injuries. Sometimes you want things to go your way, but God just takes it the other way.”
State now looks ahead to next season. Tarantini said the performance of the underclassmen in the loss to the Cavaliers showed him that there is “a future in this team.” Tarantini is “absolutely” trying to add offensive playmakers next season, as the Pack was unable to score more the two goals against any ACC opponent this year.
“In fact, I’m leaving tomorrow at 4:30 in the morning, recruiting,” he said. “I will be on the road from now on.”
Sights & SoundsRefs need eye examsThe officials weren’t seeing straight during the game, according to several Wolfpack fans. When a UVA player knocked Tyler Lassiter to the ground, a State fan questioned the referee’s decision not to call a foul, saying, “Did you miss that one too?”
Ball boys put to workOn numerous occasions, the Pack’s players sent the ball more than 15 rows into the stands. Many of the misdirected kicks were the result of frustration, as State was unable to find the net the entire game.
By the numbers0 goals scored by N.C. State players
2 saves for Wolfpack goalkeeper Christopher Widman
4 total shots for State forward El Hadj Cisse
5 true freshmen played in the game for the Pack
8 shots taken by State
9 shots taken by Virginia
66.7 percent of the Cavaliers’ shots on goal were converted
Source: N.C. State Athletics