NC State
9-5-3
Boston College (ACC 1st Round)
4-8-4
Wolfpack Defeats Eagles in First Round of ACC Tournament
10/31/2018 9:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer
NC State advances to play at national No. 1 Wake Forest on Sunday
RALEIGH – The NC State men's soccer team picked up a clutch postseason victory at Dail Soccer Stadium on Wednesday evening, defeating visiting Boston College 3-1 in the first round of the 2018 ACC Tournament.
Postgame Notes
-The victory marked NC State's first postseason win since the 2011 season and the Wolfpack's first season of nine or more wins since 2012.
-NC State is 2-0-0 against Boston College in ACC Tournament matches.
-The Wolfpack remains an unbeaten 7-0-3 in Raleigh this season.
-NC State outshot Boston College 14-7 in the win.
-The teams combined for 45 fouls and eight yellow cards in a physical contest.
NC State (9-5-3) never trailed in the match, pulling out to an early lead in the 10th minute with sophomore Brad Sweeney's fourth set-piece goal of the season. The Wolfpack generated multiple chances to double its advantage later in the first half, but Boston College was able to turn each one aside.
GOALLLLL @PackMensSoccer!@BradSweeney puts the Pack up 1-0 early over Boston College off of this free kick! #GoPack
— NC State Athletics (@PackAthletics) October 31, 2018
Watch live: https://t.co/eykfpnR5Jz pic.twitter.com/M1Sk4mNLri
The Eagles leveled the match against the run of play in the 62nd minute when Abe Bibas rose up for a strong header from close range after a well-placed cross by teammate Heidar Aegisson. NC State answered just nine minutes later when Pepe Garcia and Gabriel Machado assisted on a terrific goal by David Loera. Garcia carried the ball through the middle of the field and found Machado on the left wing, who curled in a cross to a streaking Loera. The sophomore's first-time strike wrongfooted Boston College goalkeeper Chavez Borrelli and ended up inside the left post to make it 2-1 in favor of the Wolfpack.
RELEASE THE RED SMOKE! @PackMensSoccer takes a 2-1 lead over Boston College off of this @sergi_loera3300 strike! Just under 20 minutes remaining in this first-round match. #GoPack
— NC State Athletics (@PackAthletics) November 1, 2018
Watch live: https://t.co/eykfpnR5Jz pic.twitter.com/NlYwo3HeAB
NC State put the match out of reach in the 88th minute when freshman Alex Bautista scored the first goal of his career a mere 20 seconds after taking the field for the first time in the match. Loera started a magnificent counterattack 80 yards from goal with a chip up the field to Sweeney. The sophomore dribbled 30 yards through the midfield while fending off multiple defenders to find Bautista open inside the penalty area. The freshman struck a left-footed shot with his first touch of the evening past Borrelli and inside the far post.
A look at @alexgbautista's goal that put @PackMensSoccer up 2️⃣ late in the game. #GoPack pic.twitter.com/buzqzvO9fO
— NC State Athletics (@PackAthletics) November 1, 2018
With the win, NC State will play at national No. 1 Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament quarterfinal round on Sunday afternoon at 1 pm.
#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer
Team Stats
Brad Sweeney (4)
Free kick
9:44
Abe Bibas (2)
Assisted By: Heidar Aegisson , Callum Johnson
Cross to far post and header
61:47
David Loera (3)
Assisted By: Gabriel Machado , Pepe Garcia
Finish at far post from 8 yards
70:32
Alex Bautista (1)
Assisted By: Brad Sweeney
Breakaway counter, far post from 12 yard
87:40
