The NC State men’s soccer team rebounded from Friday’s loss to Wake Forest with a dominant display over the College of Charleston, defeating the Cougars 2-0 in Raleigh.
Senior striker Nick Surkamp pounced on a keeper mistake in the 25th minute to put the Pack (3-2-1, 0-1-0 ACC) up 1-0, then freshman midfielder Zach Knudson sealed the win in the 89th to hand the Cougars (2-4-1) their fourth loss of the season.
State came into the match shorthanded, missing five players. Junior winger Reed Norton and sophomore midfielder Michael Bajza were suspended after picking up red cards in Friday’s match vs. Wake Forest, while senior team captain and right back Ryan Metts, as well as freshmen forwards Ade Taiwo and Ryan Peterson all missed out through injury.
“It’s a great result,” NC State head coach Kelly Findley said. “We had some good performances tonight, especially since we were missing so many players. Matt Ingram was very good filling in for Ryan Metts and Cameron Steele, Yanni Hachem and Phil Carmon all stepped up and helped us.”
The Pack controlled the game from the starting whistle, with the midfield trio of junior captain Holden Fender, sophomore Roland Minogue and freshman Zach Knudson outnumbering and outplaying the opposing Charleston pairing.
State earned a number of corner kicks in the first ten minutes and sophomore winger Travis Wannemuehler found space down the right continuously, nearly scoring in the 14th minute, but the attacker sent his chip over the bar.
State had to wait until the 25th minute, when Minogue accelerated onto the end of a cross, touched the ball past his defender and unleashed a powerful volley; Cougars’ goalkeeper Brian Kilgallon made a diving save but couldn’t keep hold of the ball, allowing Surkamp to pounce and poke the ball home.
“It was a scrappy goal, but being the first to the ball is the mindset coach has set for us,” Surkamp said. “You take the first goal no matter how it happens.”
With the lead, the Pack settled in and defended strongly. Senior defender Matt Ingram, filling in for Metts at right back, was particularly bright shuttling up and down the flank. The senior provided extra attacking emphasis while covering defensively; Charleston continually tried to play balls in behind the State back line, but Ingram was not beaten.
“Ryan Metts is one of the leaders of the team,” Ingram said. “I was definitely up to the challenge but those are big shoes to fill.”
At halftime, State had outshot its opponents 11-2 and had taken four corners to the Cougars’ none, but the Pack held only a slim advantage.
In the second half, Charleston came out with tremendous urgency and had the better of the possession. State sat back, comfortable absorbing pressure and trying to hit the Cougars on the counter without committing too many men forward.
The back four of freshmen Caleb Duvernay and Conor Donovan and seniors Simonin and Ingram comfortably dealt with the Charleston attack, but were lucky when an unmarked Cougar player blasted wide left from 16 yards in the 53rd minute.
With the game winding down, State endured a few nervy moments, but it was the freshman Knudson who iced the game in the 89th.
Ingram played a ball into the right channel for Surkamp, and the forward drew two defenders out of position before cutting the ball back into the middle of the field, creating a foot race between Knudson and a Charleston defender.
The bullish midfielder outpaced his marker and managed to keep his balance, touch the ball out of reach of the onrushing Charleston goalkeeper, and pass the ball into the back of the net to seal the win.
“It was a huge relief to see the ball hit the back of the net,” Knudson said. “At that point we needed to cool off the game.”
With a trip to Pittsburgh on the weekend, and a return to full strength, the Pack avoided a possible slip and instead improved, gaining a needed boost for its second ACC game.
“You just need momentum sometimes,” coach Findley said. “We’re right there, ready to step forward, and this win gives the guys confidence and belief while preparing us for Saturday.”
