State traveled down Tobacco Road to participate in the four-team Duke Nike Classic this weekend and went 2-0, improving its overall record to 3-0. Coach George Tarantini said he is happy to be 3-0 but also said the team is already looking ahead to next week’s game vs. No. 1 North Carolina.

“It feels pretty good to be 3-0,” Tarantini said. “But that goes out the window because we have to play North Carolina next week, and they’re No. 1 in the country.”

The Pack took on the University of Denver Friday night and Columbia University Sunday at noon but avoided host Duke. The ACC rivals will face off Friday, Oct. 9 in Durham.

State notched a 4-0 shutout against Denver Friday night off a two-goal effort from junior defender Tyler Lassiter.

The Pack began the blowout with two goals off corner kicks from Lassiter and senior midfielder Federico Nachmann. Lassiter added another and redshirt senior forward Ronnie Bouemboue finished out the scoring in the second half.

“We did pieces – free kicks, indirect kicks,” Tarantini said. “It was a collective effort.”

It took the Pack a little longer to get things started on Sunday afternoon against Columbia. Junior midfielder Chris Zuerner said fatigue contributed to the Pack’s scoreless effort in the first half.

“We were a little tired from the game on Friday, but we pulled it together,” Zuerner said. “But we played the ball as a team and got the job done.”

State received a shock when a shot appeared to go by redshirt senior goalkeeper Chris Widman after a Columbia jumble-up in front of the net, but Nachmann cleared it out before any damage occurred.

The Pack received a good look when Bouemboue hooked in from well out, slipping his defenseman, and beat the goaltender. However, the shot went just inches wide. Senior midfielder Alan Sanchez ripped a shot wide with less than 20 seconds remaining in the half.

Zuerner scored his first of the season in the 53rd minute when a give-and-go with Bouemboue ended up with the ball right between him and the Columbia net. Zuerner said it ‘felt excellent’ to get one on the board.

“I saw Ronnie get the ball up top and hold it up and I just wanted to make a run through and see if he could slip me,” Zuerner said. “He ended up slipping me, I took a few touches and slid it far post with my left foot.”

Zuerner, who has had nine goals in 30 starts over the past two seasons, took off along the side of the field, his jersey pulled over his head.

“I always thought about what I would do if I scored a goal, and the shirt went over the head,” Zuerner laughed. “I was just happy that we scored and won the game.”

Zuerner credited Bouemboue, who set up scoring chances all over the field against Columbia, with the play that led to his goal.

“Our game plan is to play it up to Ronnie,” Zuerner said. “He’s one of our playmakers. When Ronnie’s in, it’s just a whole new type of play. He provides great energy.”

Though Lassiter was selected MVP for his performance at the Nike Classic, Tarantini said he couldn’t single out one player that made the weekend a success.

“I don’t have a single person who I can say that guy did better than the other one,” Tarantini said. “It was the whole team.”

With the tournament behind it, the team looks forward to perennial power Carolina this Saturday. The Pack looks to avenge last year’s narrow loss and identify itself as an ACC threat this weekend in its first true test of the season.

“Last year’s loss was a bitter loss. We went into the half and we were winning, but we wound up losing 2-1 in overtime,” Zuerner said. “We’re going to work on some things in practice this week, but we’re going to be ready for them. We’re excited.”