The NC State men’s soccer team traveled to Louisville on Saturday night and defeated the Cardinals 3-2, which ruined senior night for the host team.

The Pack (8-4-3, 3-3-1 ACC) and Cardinals (10-2-3, 4-2-1) played scoreless soccer for 30 minutes before freshman forward Manny Perez gave the Pack an early lead with his fourth goal of the season. Perez scored from 10 yards out off of a pass from fellow freshman forward David Loera, and State took the 1-0 lead into half.

Louisville forward Mohamed Thiaw tied the game in the 57th minute on a penalty kick, before giving the Cardinals a late lead in the 78th minute from the right side on a tight angle. Defenseman Tim Kubel and midfielder Walker Andriot helped set up Thiaw on his second goal of the night.

The Pack responded three minutes later when junior forward Clayton Sparks tied the game at two. Sparks finished a crossing pass from Perez inside the right post for his third goal of the season. Loera was awarded his second assist of the game.

State took the lead for good six minutes later when Perez scored his second goal of the night, and his third point in the 87th minute. Redshirt sophomore forward Ade Taiwo set up Perez to earn his first assist of the season.

The Pack held on for the final few minutes of the game and earned its second win over a top-five ranked team this season, after defeating Clemson on Sept. 8.

Freshman goalkeeper Leon Krapf faced twelve shots and made two saves to help the Wolfpack bolster its NCAA tournament chances.

The Pack returns to Dail Soccer Stadium to finish its non-conference schedule next Tuesday when the South Carolina Gamecocks travel to Raleigh.