Stern defending has been a major theme for N.C. State’s men’s soccer team under head coach Kelly Findley, and a key piece in the defensive puzzle is team captain and starting senior right back Ryan Metts.

An ESPN Rise All-American and a graduate of Raleigh’s Wakefield High School, Metts spent his first year of college at Wake Forest University, but transferred to N.C. State in 2011.

“I wanted to stay in the ACC,” Metts said. “Originally, N.C. State wasn’t one of my top choices until I met with coach Findley, who asked me if I wanted to be a part of something new and change the history of N.C. State soccer. I said, ‘Of course I do.’ Overall it was a very good fit.”

Findley concentrates on recruiting players from the Raleigh area. Metts was one of Findley’s first commitments, and the Raleigh native said he enjoys having family and friends in the stands for every game.

“Being from Raleigh has motivated me,” Metts said. “It helps when you have people you know in the stands. It’s awesome when you look over and see your parents and people from the tightly knit Raleigh area soccer community you know outside of N.C. State. You know people are supporting you and want you to do well.”

Even though Metts is a college senior, he said old high school rivalries are a point of good-natured ribbing between members of the Wolfpack from the Raleigh area.

“It’s the Wakefield-Wake Forest rivalry,” Metts said. “I know [sophomore defender] Michael Hinkson and [junior defender] Seth Poole, for example. Hinkson and I went to Wakefield and Seth went to Wake Forest High School, so there’s a friendly rivalry. We joke about it because it’s high school sports, so it doesn’t matter much anymore, but it’s still a fun thing to do.”

During his time at State, Metts has moved all around the field in a positional sense. A center back in high school, Metts played center midfield in his first season for the Pack before securing his starting spot at outside right back.

“When I first got here, Coach Findley didn’t have his new recruits yet,” Metts said. “I had played center mid for my club team and high school, so I just fit in wherever coach needed me.” 

Metts’ defensive skill set gives him the ability to play in a variety of positions along the back line. Defenders typically are not prolific goal scorers, and Metts said he is no exception. 

“I haven’t scored a goal in college yet [laughs],” Metts said, “So it’s kind of a running joke.”

Four games into the spring season, the former Wakefield star said he is happy with the team’s performance, specifically the team’s shutout of the Charlotte Eagles.

“In past seasons I don’t think we could’ve closed out those last ten minutes [against Charlotte],” Metts said. “It was great not to give up a tying goal when we probably would have last season.”

While not having a single favorite professional team, the senior defender is a self-proclaimed band-wagoner and usually enjoys whichever team is playing the best soccer at a particular time.

“You can call me a band-wagoner and I won’t get upset,” Metts said. “When I put a game on, I like to see entertaining, attractive soccer. Right now that’s Bayern Munich from Germany and Chelsea from England, and those are the teams I want to meet in the Champions’ League final.”

As an accounting major, Metts said he feels the strain of classes as heavily as any other State senior, although he still finds time to relax.

“When not playing soccer, I’m doing homework,” Metts said. “But other than that I watch my roommates play FIFA. I get too stressed whenever I play [laughs], and I like to do my stressing on the field.”

Now in his last year of college, Metts said he enjoys watching younger players grow and seeing his friends continue their playing careers outside of college.

“I like being a leader to the freshmen,” Metts said, “And I hope I can leave my impression on them and they can win a championship.”