North Carolina State University Athletics
Men's Soccer to Tangle with Hokies at ACC Tourney
11/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
NC State Faces Virginia Tech at ACC Tournament: The eighth-seeded NC State men's soccer team will face ninth-seeded Virginia Tech in the first round of the ACC Tournament Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. This year’s tournament will be held at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
The Wolfpack (8-8-1, 3-5 ACC) comes into the ACC Tournament having won seven of its last nine games, with the only two losses in that span to teams currently ranked in the top-five nationally.
The Wolfpack has also won three of its last four ACC affairs on the season, including a 2-0 defeat of Virginia Tech (5-12-1, 0-8 ACC) in Raleigh on November 1.
NC State currently checks in at No. 8 in the NCSAA regional rankings.
The winner of the game will face top-seed Wake Forest on Wed. at 5:30 p.m.
NC State in the ACC Tournament: Since the ACC Tournament started in 1987, NC State holds an all-time record of 8-17-5 in the event. NC State was the runner-up in the inaugural tournament in 1987, losing to North Carolina in the finals, 4-3.
NC State won the 1990 ACC Tournament, the same year the Wolfpack advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. That season, NC State entered the tournament with a 3-3 mark in ACC regualr season play, but downed Maryland (3-1), Clemson (3-1), and Virginia (2-1) to win the title.
During the first six years of the ACC Tournament (1987-92), NC State held a record of 7-2-4. The Wolfpack only lost once in the first round (2-1 to Duke in 1989), and was eliminated three times on penalty kicks (the game is recorded as a tie).
The Pack's success has changed since then, as NC State is 1-15-1 dating back to the 1993 tournament. The Pack's lone win in that span was an exciting 4-3 defeat of Virginia Tech in the 2006 tournament.
The Pack did advance in 2003, knocking off No. 8 North Carolina on penalty kicks, then falling to No. 2 Maryland 2-1 in the semifinals.
Wolfpack and Hokies Meet Again in ACC Tournament: Tuesday's contest against Virginia Tech marks the second time in the last three years the two teams have met in the ACC Tournament. Back in 2006 in Boyds, Md., the Pack and the Hokies put on one of the most exciting contests to date.
The Wolfpack came from a goal down with less than four minutes remaining to advance to the quarterfinals with a 4-3 win over Virginia Tech.
After a scoreless first half, the two teams combined for seven second-half goals, including two by the Wolfpack in the final four minutes. Sophomore Ronnie Bouemboue recorded a hat trick for the Pack, with two of his goals coming late in the second half.
The Series Against Virginia Tech: Tuesday's contest will mark the 13th match-up all-time between the Wolfpack and the Hokies, with NC State currently leading the series 9-3-1. NC State has been dominate in games played in Raleigh, 7-1 after this season's NC State win, and the Pack won the only neutral matchup between the teams, in the 2006 ACC Tournament in Boyds, Md.
Earlier This Season Versus Virginia Tech: NC State concluded its first season in the NC State Soccer Stadium in style, as the Wolfpack recorded a 2-0 win over Virginia Tech on November 1 in the final home game of the season. The Wolfpack found the back of the net once in each half, and limited the Hokie offense to a mere two shots on goal for the game.
Junior Alan Sanchez got the Pack on the scoreboard in the 24th minute. After collecting a loose ball just outside the VT penalty box, Sanchez looped a shot into the far side of the goal for his eight score of the season at the 23:18 mark.
After a back and forth first 42 minutes in the second half, the Pack would grab an insurance goal in the 88th minute. Sophomore Chris Zuerner collected the ball at midfield, and dribbled down into the Hokie penalty box and found the back of the net at the 87:46 mark.
NC State held a slight 14-11 shot advantage. The Pack’s Christopher Widman record one save for the shutout.
Finishing the Season Strong: The NC State men's soccer team comes into the 2008 ACC Tournament on a roll, as the Pack has won seven of its last nine contests.
The Pack got off to a 1-5-1 start on the season and was shutout in two of those games while the defense did not record a shutout.
The Pack's fortunes have changed however, as NC State is outscoring its opponents 26-11 over the last nine games.
NC State has also turned around its ACC season. After dropping its first four league games, the Pack finished the season winning three of its final four games, with two of those coming on the road.
Bouemboue Garners Honors: Junior Ronnie Bouemboue picked up a pair of honors for his performance at No. 18 Duke this past week. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Week, and was also named to College Soccer News' team of the Week. Bouemboue scored both goals in the Wolfpack’s 2-1 win at No. 18 Duke on Friday night to close out the 2008 regular season.
Offensive Firepower: The key to the Pack's late season turnaround has been its ability to score goals, and in some games score in bunches. Over the last nine games, the Pack has netted 26 scores.
Juniors Ronnie Bouemboue and Alan Sanchez have led the offensive charge this season. Bouemboue leads the Pack with his 11 goals and 25 points thus far, while Sanchez has a team-high eight assists to go along with eight scores for 24 points.
This season marks the first time since 1996 that NC State has had two players finish with at least 20 points in a season.
Sophomore Chris Zuerner ranks second on the Pack with four goals, while junior Federico Nachmann and freshman Watt Williams each have tallied nine points.
Coming into the final weekend of the season, the NC State offense was ranked No. 15 nationally in goals per game.
Widman Between the Pipes: After losing his starting position in preseason, junior Christopher Widman returned to the lineup in the fourth game of the season and has played every minute in the Pack's net ever since.
Widman has posted new career-highs with a 1.49 GAA and five shutouts this season.
Over the last three games, Widman has allowed just one goal, a penalty kick at No. 18 Duke. Widman currently has a streak of 335 minutes without allowing a goal during game play, excluding the PK at Duke.
Defense is Solid: While the NC State offense has been getting the headlines this season, the play of the Pack's backline has been solid.
The Wolfpack has given up just one goal over the last three games, and that was a PK in the win at No. 18 Duke. In fact, over the last two wins over Virginia Tech and Duke, the Pack defense has surrendered a mere 4 shots total on goal.
Since No. 1 Wake Forest scored four times against the Pack on October 11, NC State has allowed just four goals in the last six games in helping NC State to a 5-1 record in those contests.
Junior Romulo Manzano and sophomore Tyler Lassiter are the central defenders, while junior Korede Aiyegbusi and sophomore Lucas Carpenter are the outside backs.
Newcomers Galore: When the 2008 season started, only three returning starts where in Pack's lineup in the season opener. After a change in goal midway through the season, that figure is now up to four players starting this season that were starting last year as well.
Junior Ronnie Bouemboue and freshman Kris Byrd both sat out last season with injuries, while sophomore Chris Zuerner only saw spot action off the bench last year.
NC State has added four transfers to its starting lineup (Korede Aiyegbusi, Chrystel Bakong, Federico Nachmann, Romulo Manzano) and freshman Watt Williams is usually the first player off the bench.
In all, 10 players that did not play last season have started a combined 107 games this season.
