NC State Opens Season at Home Friday Evening

August 28, 2019

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RALEIGH – After picking up two 2-1 victories in the exhibition portion of its season, the NC State men's soccer team officially kicks off the 2019 campaign with two home matches this weekend. The Wolfpack will host Loyola on Friday evening at 7 pm and St. John's on Sunday evening at 7 pm. Both matches will be streamed live on ACCNX from Dail Soccer Stadium in Raleigh.

ABOUT ACCN and ACCNX
ACCN (ACC Network) is a linear television network and ACCNX is the existing digital platform for additional live events not appearing on ACCN. Both are part of the ESPN app. To access ACCNX, your provider must carry ACCN. To access ACCN and ACCNX on the ESPN app, fans must sign in with their credentials from a participating TV provider.

FRIDAY PROMOTIONS
-American Wolfpack Warrior Night.
-Sweatband giveaway: free American Wolfpack Warrior sweatbands for the first 200 fans.
-Cowbell giveaway: free NC State cowbells for the first 200 fans.
-Kids Zone: Ninja obstacle course, crafts table, giant Connect Four, and corn hole.

SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS (0-0-0)
-Posted a 12-4-1 record last season (7-1-1 in conference).
-Went 7-2-0 away from home.
-Outscored opponents 32-12.
-Outshot opponents on average 14-8 per match.
-Leading scorer Brian Saramago (8G, 8A) returns this season.
-Saramago and Barry Sharifi (4G, 4A) named to MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List.
-Team was selected to win the Patriot League this season with 9 returning starters.
-Team is ranked 45th in the national preseason poll.
-GK Chase Vosvick has won two straight Patriot League GK of the Year awards.
-Drew 2-2 at Maryland in an Aug. 17 exhibition.

SERIES HISTORY (NC State leads 2-0-0)
-Friday's match will be the first meeting between the teams in Raleigh.
-NC State earned 2-1 wins at Loyola during the 1980 and 1983 seasons.

EXHIBITION RECAP
-NC State earned two 2-1 victories during the exhibition portion of the season, winning at No. 6 UNC on Aug. 18 and defeating VCU at home on Aug. 24.
-The Wolfpack did not once trail in 180 minutes.

ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE SCHEDULE
Including NC State's exhibition win at No. 6 UNC on Aug. 18, the Wolfpack will play six opponents ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 this season: No. 4 Wake Forest, No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 10 Duke, No. 12 Virginia, and No. 14 Louisville.

During a four-match stretch between Sept. 20 and Oct. 11, four of the Wolfpack's five matches will feature opponents ranked within the preseason top 14.

2018 NC STATE SEASON RECAP
-First 10-win season since 2012.
-First back-to-back NCAA Championship appearances since 1991 and 1992.
-Won a match in the NCAA Championship for the first time since 1994.
-Posted an unbeaten 8-0-3 mark at home.
-Defeated three teams ranked in the national top 14 at the time of kickoff.

STRONG SIGNING CLASS
NC State added eight student-athletes to its signing class of 2019. The group features four players
ranked within the 2019 Boys IMG Academy Top 150 rankings and was ranked sixth nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.

BALANCED SCORING
NC State's 25 goals last season came from 12 different players. Of those 25 goals, 20 came from players still on the roster for the 2019 season.

STEADY IN GOAL
Junior goalkeeper Leon Krapf is in the third season of a very strong college career. The German international has played every minute of 38 matches and has recorded 14 shutouts and 102 saves while allowing only 44 goals. His current goals against average (GAA) for his career is 1.11, which ranks No. 1 in the available goalkeeping records at NC State.

#GoPack // @PackMensSoccer

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Players Mentioned

Leon Krapf