The NC State men’s soccer team blanked Boston College 1-0 backed by a shutout performance from redshirt senior goalkeeper Vinnie Durand and the lone goal from freshman defender Pablo Pedregosa.

The Wolfpack (3-1-1, 1-0 ACC) rode a strong first-half performance into the break before ultimately having to weather the storm that the Eagles (4-1-0, 0-1 ACC) conjured in the second half. 

“I think it’s good to get started in the ACC with a shutout, a good performance,” NC State head coach George Kiefer said. “ I thought the first 45 minutes was some of the best stuff we’ve seen from us, so that was good in the way we play forward and the way we made penetration.”

The Pack was controlling the tempo of the game right off the whistle, as it dominated the possession numbers and kept the ball mainly in the Eagles’ end of the field. The pressure paid off early for the Wolfpack, who got the game’s first goal 23 minutes in.

After a NC State crossing feed was directed up and over the net by a Boston College defender, the Pack brought senior midfielder Gabriel Machado onto the field to take the corner kick. Machado’s kick found its way to the front of the net where Pedregosa finished off the midair volley to put the Wolfpack ahead 1-0 in the first half.

“I think our set pieces are very good, when you look at the height we have, you look at whos getting goals, I encourage someone to figure out who to deal with most,” Keifer said. “Because to pay too much attention to one, there’s a few guys that are picking up goals on it so it’s good.”

NC State carried its dominance through the remainder of the first 45, outshooting BC 7-2 in that frame. Durand had it easy, not having to make a single save as none of the Eagles’ first half shots were on goal.

“I prefer to not touch the ball at all. When you’re a keeper you just have to stay engaged the whole time,” Durand said. “If you don’t touch the ball it’s a perfect game. I thought the team protected me really well tonight and I think the backline played superb.”

The Pack seemed to struggle at the onset of the second half, allowing Boston College to start testing Durand and the Wolfpack defenders. NC State was going for long clears and was no longer looking to move and control the ball up field as they had in the first half.

Both team’s tenacity ramped up in the second half as multiple takedowns and fouls were called on each side. Two yellow cards were handed out to Boston College players and one was handed out to junior defender David Norris over the course of the second half as the referees tried to bring the game back under control.

A series of corner kicks helped to swing the momentum back to the Pack’s favor for a few minutes, before the Eagles reasserted its pressure, piling on the shots. However, the Wolfpack was able to hold onto its one goal lead through the final minutes.

“It’s awesome,” Durand said on the shutout win. “It was the first ACC game for me and the first shutout for the team in the ACC too. It’s massive for our confidence.”

NC State will continue its short home stand as it takes on the College of Charleston at Dail Soccer Field Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.