#PackFooty Captures Draw vs. No. 5 Syracuse

Saturday, October 25

Raleigh, N.C.

7:00 PM

NC State

Syracuse

10/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Oct. 25, 2014

Box Score

Box Score | Box Score | Play-by-Play  | Photos by Karl DeBlaker 

NC State (6-5-4, 1-3-3 ACC) strengthened its ACC Tournament standing and kept hope alive for an NCAA Tournament bid with a 0-0 (2OT) draw against No. 5 Syracuse on Saturday night at Dail Soccer Stadium. 

NEXT GAME: TUESDAY HOME vs. Liberty, 7 PM (SENIOR NIGHT)

Fans are encouraged to join the #PackFooty conversation by following @PackMensSoccer

#PACKFOOTY NEWS & NOTES
- The Wolfpack became only the third team this season to earn a result against Syracuse. The Orange have only be beaten twice this year; 2-1 at Louisville (RPI: 24) and 1-0 at home by Notre Dame (RPI: 5). The Wolfpack becomes the first side this season to earn a draw.

- Alex McCauley finished the week with one goal allowed through 209:34 minutes on 11 saves, as NC State picked up a 2-1 overtime win at South Carolina on Tuesday to go along with Saturday's tie. McCauley will be the Pack's ACC Player of the Week nomination for his efforts, which included outsaving All-ACC First Team GK favorite, Alex Bono of Syracuse, 7-6 on Saturday. 

MOMENTS OF THE MATCH

Travis Wannemuehler and the Wolfpack offense played well throughout, landing six shots on target to No. 5 Syracuse's seven, and earning six CKs to eight for the Orange. State nearly matched Syracuse shot for shot until losing a man in the 91st minute.

Zach Knudson fell victim to a red card after being shown yellow in the 68th and 91st, leaving the Wolfpack a man down for the final 19 minutes of extra time.

Despite being a man down, the Pack rallied, particularly in the 98th minute on the loose ball scramble pictured above. The rebound chance happened on a Holden Fender rocket on target with time dwindling in OT1.

State managed a furious sequence in the 106th minute when Ryan Peterson won a Michael Bajza rebound and set up a Philip Carmon shot from 18, saved by the keeper. Syracuse had the final chance to break the scoreless tie, on this play in the 110th minute that closed with McCauley's punch.  
FINDLEY'S TAKE

"They put a lot of balls across our goal," said NC State head coach Kelly Findley. "I thought they had some good opportunities. I did think we had chances to win the game, two in overtime. Being down a player, I thought our effort was very good. A draw is about right, but I thought we might have been able to steal the points as well."