North Carolina State University Athletics
Men's Soccer Travels to Duke/Nike Classic
8/31/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 31, 2011
Raleigh, N.C. - The NC State men's soccer team returns to action this weekend, as the Wolfpack travels over to Durham, N.C., to compete in the Duke/Nike Classic. The Pack will face #9 SMU on Friday at 5 p.m., and then play No. 8 UC Santa Barbara on Sunday at noon.
So far in 2011, the Pack's defense has been solid in notching back-to-back shutouts to open the season for the first time since the 1989 season. Including the Pack's two exhibition games, the defense has yet to allow a goal in 380 minutes of action.
NC State finally got on the scoreboard in Monday's 2-0 win over VMI, when English freshmen Ollie Kelly and Simon Coxboth found the back of the net.
Of the 22 combined starts in the first two games, 17 have gone to players that did not play for the Pack last season.
Over the last two years, the Pack has gone 3-1 at the Duke/Nike Classic. Last season, the Pack opened its season with a 4-3 overtime win over Sacramento State and then fell to eventual national champion Louisville, 2-1. In 2009, NC State claimed the team title after defeating Denver, 4-0, and then Columbia, 1-0.
SMU comes in ranked No. 9 on CollegeSoccerNews.com and No.17 in the NSCAA poll. The Mustangs fell to William & Mary, 3-2, in their lone game this season. Last year, SMU reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament and finished at 16-2-2.
UC Santa Barbara is ranked No. 8 on CollegeSoccerNews.com and No. 9 in the NSCAA poll. The Gauchos downed Seattle, 3-1, in their season opener. Last year, UCSB went 14-5-3 and fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
