NC State Plays at #2/4 Notre Dame Friday Evening

September 14, 2017

Live Stats | Watch Live on ACC Network Extra

RALEIGH – The NC State men's soccer team (3-1-0, 1-0-0 ACC) returns to Atlantic Coast Conference action this weekend, playing at No. 2/4 Notre Dame Friday evening. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Alumni Stadium with live coverage provided by ACC Network Extra.

LAST MATCH
Led by two goals from junior forward Tanner Roberts, NC State picked up its second straight victory on Sunday evening, defeating the visiting Longwood Lancers by a final score of 2-1.

NC State outshot Longwood by a 10-4 margin and controlled much of the possession throughout the evening. Roberts scored his first goal of the evening in the 27th minute on a header from a Brad Sweeney free kick. He then doubled the Wolfpack lead in the 83rd minute by dribbling past an onrushing goalkeeper and guiding the ball into the net following a tremendous play by teammate Tyler Gabarra in which he took possession from a Longwood defender and fed the ball across the face of goal to a waiting Roberts.

A WEEK OF AWARDS
Freshman forward Manny Perez was named NCAA Player of the Week and to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week after scoring the match-winning goal in a 1-0 win over No. 3 Clemson. Freshman goalkeeper Leon Krapf claimed ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors with a 1-0 shutout of Clemson and his role in a 2-1 defeat of Longwood two days later.

NATIONALLY RANKED
NC State entered the national rankings for the first time this season on Sept. 11, coming in at No. 18 on Soccer America's poll.

SOLID SCORING
Through four matches, NC State is currently ranked 27th nationally in goals scored per match (2.00). Perez ranks ninth nationally with two match-winning goals.

Recovery and staying fresh also ?? as we prep for our next @ACCMSoccer match - a Friday trip to No. 2/4 Notre Dame. #ncaasoccer pic.twitter.com/lk2m44DDOP
— NCSU Men's Soccer (@PackMensSoccer) September 14, 2017

SCOUTING THE FIGHTING IRISH
-Notre Dame enters Friday's match the owner of a 4-0-0 record that includes a 1-0-0 mark in ACC play.
-The Fighting Irish are ranked No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and No. 4 in the Soccer America poll.
-Notre Dame returns seven starters from a 2016 team that went 12-7-2 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16.
-Senior forward Jon Gallagher is on the 2017 Hermann Trophy Watch List.

SERIES HISTORY
-Friday's match marks just the fourth meeting in program history.
-The series is tied 1-1-1.
-Last meeting: 1-1 draw in Raleigh on Oct. 4, 2015.
-This will be NC State's first trip in program history to visit Notre Dame.

IMPORTANCE OF THE CLEMSON WIN
NC State's 1-0 win over No. 3 Clemson on Sept. 8:
-Snapped an eight match losing streak to the Tigers.
-Was the first win over Clemson at Dail Soccer Field (opened in 2008).
-Was the first NC State victory over a top-five opponent since a 2-1 win over No. 5 Louisville on Oct. 3, 2014.
-Made new head coach George Kiefer 1-0 against ranked opponents since taking over in Raleigh.

UP NEXT
Following the trip to Notre Dame, NC State plays at local opponent Elon on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer

NC State Plays at #2/4 Notre Dame Friday Evening

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tyler Gabarra

Leon Krapf

Manny Perez

Tanner Roberts

Brad Sweeney

NC State Plays at #2/4 Notre Dame Friday Evening

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tyler Gabarra

Leon Krapf

Manny Perez

Tanner Roberts

Brad Sweeney

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