It was fitting that the final goal of the No. 14 men’s soccer team be from senior midfielder Alan Sanchez with an assist from redshirt senior forward Ronnie Bouemboue. The goal, which occured at the 89:14 mark, put the Pack up for good 4-2. But looks can be deceiving as State struggled early in the first half.
Redshirt sophomore midfielder Kris Byrd scored the Pack’s first goal in the 18th minute to make the score 1-0. But Presbyterian tried to steal the night away from State’s nine seniors who were honored before the start of the game, by scoring its first goal at the 41:09 mark. The teams went into halftime tied 1-1.
Coach George Tarantini expected the game to be close and said the team struggled emotionally on Senior Night.
“I have a lot of mix emotions,” Tarantini said. “You bring someone to N.C. State and watch them grow up and leave. Any time a player leaves, a part of you leaves with them. Second half, to be honest with you, it has been a tough game for us today for many reasons.”
Senior defender Korede Aiyegbusi said the team came out well the first 5 to ten minutes, but the play of the team became sloppy.
“It showed,” Aiyegbusi said. “I’m not sure if every one out there was fresh. That’s been our main problem all season – starting out slow. We actually did a good job to start off well but it went back down again. But through all that, we persevered and had to fight for it which we did it.”
State came out early in the second half and got a goal via penalty kick from Aiyegbusi, the first goal of his career. The Blue Hoses came back and tied the game 2-2 at in the 56th minute. Emotions continued to run high as the refs talked to a number of players throughout the game and both coaches.
Momentum shifted in the Pack’s favor as junior midfielder Chris Zuerner put the Wolfpack up 3-2 with a goal at the 67:55 mark. He would soon receive a yellow card after the goal, the second card handed out that night to a Wolfpack player, when senior goalie Christopher Widman received one in the first half. Zuerner said the goal gave the team a little motivation.
“It provided a small spark,” Zuerner said. “We eventually got a fourth goal and that sealed the deal.”
State, 12-4-1 on the season, will now head to Virginia for the regular season finale Saturday, followed by the ACC Tournament, which begins Nov. 10.
But for now, the seniors will celebrate their final win at home. Zurner had nothing but positive things to say about the senior class.
“Not only are they great guys, they are great players and just great people in general,” Zuerner said. “I’ve had a privilege to be here three years with them and you learn a lot from them, including their experience on and off the field. They can really provide some insight and some valuable information so I’ve enjoyed it and I’ve loved having them here.”
