Saturday, October 8
Clemson, SC
7:00 PM
NC State
3-8 (0-5ACC)
0
at
2
#5 Clemson
8-1-2 (3-1-1ACC)
1
2
F
NC State
0
0
0
Clemson
0
2
2
Wolfpack Falls on the Road at No. 5 Clemson
10/8/2016 9:01:00 PM | Men's Soccer
October 8, 2016
CLEMSON, S.C. – The NC State men's soccer team dropped a tough road match at Atlantic Coast Conference foe Clemson Saturday evening, falling to the No. 5 Tigers at Riggs Field by a final score of 2-0.
Senior goalkeeper Alex McCauley logged a strong 90 minutes in goal on Saturday, stopping seven shots. The hosts were able to find the back of the net in the 61st and 65th minutes to earn the win.
NC State's offense was strong but simply couldn't find the back of the net despite creating multiple quality scoring chances. The Wolfpack ended the match with eight total shots and generated six corner kicks.
"We created enough quality chances to win a match but did not finish them," NC State head coach Kelly Findley said in a postgame interview. "Tanner (Roberts), Julius (Duchscherer), Lukas (Zarges) and other guys created a number of good chances tonight.
"We had multiple good performances but the ball just isn't falling for us right now. If we continue to play like we did tonight, things will begin to turn our way."
The Wolfpack (3-8-0, 0-5-0) played a very strong first half, nearly finding the back of the net on three high quality scoring chances from the midfield. Julius Duchscherer got on the end of a Lukas Zarges corner in the 19th minute, beating goalkeeper Ximo Miralles before his attempt was saved off the line by an opportunistic defender. Duchscherer then had another crack in the 36th minute, hitting a low strike towards the far post from 22 yards out. Miralles was equal to the task and made a diving save on this attempt and also another by Zarges in the 39th.
"I thought we had a very good first half," Findley said. "We made them play like we wanted to and got after them. It's frustrating to create good chances, stretch them, get in good pockets and not finish. When you don't finish, you keep the game in the balance the whole time and open yourself up to giving up a goal."
McCauley played a vital role for the Wolfpack in the first half, making four saves. None of his saves were more impressive than a stop in the 44th minute when Tigers' leading scorer Diego Campos hit a first time strike from six yards away but was denied by McCauley on the line.
"He was excellent tonight," Findley said. "That's what we expect of him, which says a lot about how we view him as a leader, goalkeeper and performer. It was great to see him play that well and it's something that does not surprise us."
The Tigers took the lead in the 61st minute on a well struck attempt by Thales Moreno from 16 yards. Campos crossed the ball into the area and Moreno beat McCauley to the far post.
Clemson doubled its lead on a fortunate bounce in the 65th minute. McCauley made a solid save on a Campos shot and the ball fell right to the foot of an NC State defender rushing back to help. The rebound struck the foot of the Wolfpack defender and his momentum carried the ball into the back of the net.
"I'm really pleased with how we kept pushing in the last two minutes of the match tonight," Findley added. "The team showed a lot of character and fight, and I was very proud of that."
NC State returns to action at home for the next two matches. The Wolfpack will host High Point Tuesday, Oct. 11 (7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra) and Pittsburgh on Saturday, Oct. 15 (7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra).
#GoPack
CLEMSON, S.C. – The NC State men's soccer team dropped a tough road match at Atlantic Coast Conference foe Clemson Saturday evening, falling to the No. 5 Tigers at Riggs Field by a final score of 2-0.
Senior goalkeeper Alex McCauley logged a strong 90 minutes in goal on Saturday, stopping seven shots. The hosts were able to find the back of the net in the 61st and 65th minutes to earn the win.
NC State's offense was strong but simply couldn't find the back of the net despite creating multiple quality scoring chances. The Wolfpack ended the match with eight total shots and generated six corner kicks.
"We created enough quality chances to win a match but did not finish them," NC State head coach Kelly Findley said in a postgame interview. "Tanner (Roberts), Julius (Duchscherer), Lukas (Zarges) and other guys created a number of good chances tonight.
"We had multiple good performances but the ball just isn't falling for us right now. If we continue to play like we did tonight, things will begin to turn our way."
The Wolfpack (3-8-0, 0-5-0) played a very strong first half, nearly finding the back of the net on three high quality scoring chances from the midfield. Julius Duchscherer got on the end of a Lukas Zarges corner in the 19th minute, beating goalkeeper Ximo Miralles before his attempt was saved off the line by an opportunistic defender. Duchscherer then had another crack in the 36th minute, hitting a low strike towards the far post from 22 yards out. Miralles was equal to the task and made a diving save on this attempt and also another by Zarges in the 39th.
"I thought we had a very good first half," Findley said. "We made them play like we wanted to and got after them. It's frustrating to create good chances, stretch them, get in good pockets and not finish. When you don't finish, you keep the game in the balance the whole time and open yourself up to giving up a goal."
McCauley played a vital role for the Wolfpack in the first half, making four saves. None of his saves were more impressive than a stop in the 44th minute when Tigers' leading scorer Diego Campos hit a first time strike from six yards away but was denied by McCauley on the line.
"He was excellent tonight," Findley said. "That's what we expect of him, which says a lot about how we view him as a leader, goalkeeper and performer. It was great to see him play that well and it's something that does not surprise us."
The Tigers took the lead in the 61st minute on a well struck attempt by Thales Moreno from 16 yards. Campos crossed the ball into the area and Moreno beat McCauley to the far post.
Clemson doubled its lead on a fortunate bounce in the 65th minute. McCauley made a solid save on a Campos shot and the ball fell right to the foot of an NC State defender rushing back to help. The rebound struck the foot of the Wolfpack defender and his momentum carried the ball into the back of the net.
"I'm really pleased with how we kept pushing in the last two minutes of the match tonight," Findley added. "The team showed a lot of character and fight, and I was very proud of that."
NC State returns to action at home for the next two matches. The Wolfpack will host High Point Tuesday, Oct. 11 (7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra) and Pittsburgh on Saturday, Oct. 15 (7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra).
#GoPack
Team Stats
ST
CU
Goals
0
2
Shots
8
16
Shots on Goal
4
9
Saves
7
4
Corners
6
5
Fouls
10
8
Scoring Plays
Thales Moreno (2)
Assisted By: Diego Campos , Grayson Raynor
Own goal off of clemson cross
60:36
TEAM (1)
Deflected shot scored from 6 yards out
64:21
Game Leaders
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
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