Wolfpack Plays to 0-0 Draw with Spartans

Tuesday, October 10

Raleigh, NC

7PM

NC State

6-4-2

USC Upstate

2-8-2

Team	1	2	OT 3	OT 4	Final F
USC Upstate	0	0	0	0	0
NC State	0	0	0	0	0

10/10/2017 10:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score @packmenssoccer

NC State junior Tanner Roberts records as many shots (6) as USC Upstate

October 10, 2017

RALEIGH – Despite generating a 15-6 edge in shots and an 11-3 advantage in corners, the NC State men's soccer team (6-4-2) was held to a 0-0 draw by visiting USC Upstate Tuesday evening at Dail Soccer Stadium.

The Wolfpack dictated the pace and tempo of the match but was unable to find the back of the net. Junior forward and leading scorer Tanner Roberts recorded as many shots (6) as the entire team of Spartans, but NC State was denied seven times throughout the evening by USC Upstate goalkeeper CJ Cluck and once by a defender on the goal line.

"I told the team that this is a cruel game that we play sometimes," NC State head coach George Kiefer said after the match. "I thought we had four looks where typically one of the guys hits one of those. You were in alone, and had time. But to be fair, their goalkeeper made kick saves, diving saves, he did a good job. I think it's good management of our guys in that you keep a shutout, don't let them on the board, move the ball, and create good chances. I can't walk away too unhappy with our group. I think that they deserve more tonight with how they played, but that's what makes this game so passionate."

The shutout was the fifth earned by the Wolfpack this season and moves the team's unbeaten run to three consecutive matches (two wins and one draw). Freshman goalkeeper Leon Krapf was tested twice throughout the evening and made two saves to improve his goals against average to 1.12 per match.

After a scoreless opening 45 minutes, NC State recorded six shots during the second half without allowing a single one by the Spartans. One of the Wolfpack's best chances came during the 76th minute when Jan-Luca Ahillen whipped in a corner to the head of Roberts. The junior rose up and nodded the ball past the diving Cluck, but a well-positioned teammate standing on the line was able to block the shot with his body.

The Wolfpack recorded four shots on target during the two overtime periods, but Cluck made all four stops to preserve the shutout. It appeared that NC State had won a penalty in the 106th minute when forward Clayton Sparks was on the receiving end of a sliding challenge inside the penalty area, but no foul was judged to have occurred.

NC State returns to action on Friday evening when No. 10/6 Virginia comes to Raleigh. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Dail Soccer Stadium with live television coverage provided by the Atlantic Coast Conference's Regional Sports Networks (RSN).

#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer