NC State
0-5-0, 0-4-0
#3 Clemson
5-1-0, 3-1-0
Wolfpack Falls Just Short to No. 3 Tigers
10/23/2020 11:13:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RALEIGH – The NC State men's soccer team put together a solid fight but ultimately fell just short, 1-0, to visiting Clemson Friday evening at Dail Soccer Stadium.
Redshirt junior goalkeeper Leon Krapf made a career-high seven saves during the match for the Wolfpack (0-5-0, 0-4-0 ACC), but Clemson's Grayson Barber netted his first goal of the season in the 63rd minute to push the third-ranked Tigers (5-1-0, 3-1-0 ACC) to the victory.
The teams played a scoreless opening 45 minutes. Krapf was tested multiple times by nine first-half Tiger shots, but he made six saves to keep the match scoreless at the break. The Wolfpack generated two shots, one on target, and a corner kick in the opening half.
5 saves so far tonight for this 🐺🐺 captain.
— NC State Men's Soccer (@PackMensSoccer) October 24, 2020
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Kuda Muskwe created a chance early in the second half, receiving a perfectly-fed ball from AJ Seals just inside the box. The NC State junior got a low-rolling shot off with his left foot that was saved by Clemson's goalkeeper George Marks. Immediately following, Aidan Foster took advantage of a mis-throw by Marks, but the Tiger junior was easily able to corral Foster's shot attempt.
Barber gave the Tigers the 1-0 lead in the 63rd minute. Teammate Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador took advantage of a Wolfpack turnover and sent a through ball to Barber from midfield. Barber managed to stay onside and played the ball around an approaching Krapf to finish with his left foot to break the tie.
NC State found a good look at pulling level in the 87th minute when Brad Sweeney managed to get a free kick on target. His ball bounced off of Clemson's wall and toward the mouth of the goal, but Marks was able to quickly react to the deflection for the save.
The Pack will make the short trip to Chapel Hill, N.C., to take on rival North Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 1. That match is set for a 1 p.m. start from the UNC Lacrosse & Soccer Stadium, and live video coverage will be provided by ACCNX.
#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer
Team Stats
Grayson Barber (1)
Assisted By: Luis Felipe Fernandez-Salvador
GOAL by CLEM Barber, Grayson Assist by Fernandez-Salvador, Luis Felipe.
62:55
