NC State
0-5-1, 0-4-1
#5 North Carolina
2-1-2, 2-1-2
Wolfpack Battles to Scoreless Draw with No. 5 Tar Heels
11/1/2020 3:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The NC State men's soccer team (0-5-1, 0-4-1 ACC) earned its first result of the 2020 fall season Sunday afternoon as it fought to a 0-0 draw with rival North Carolina (2-1-2, 2-1-2 ACC).
In what was a tremendous defensive effort by both teams, the Wolfpack hung tight with the Tar Heels, generating just one fewer shot (10-11) and the same number of shots on target/saves (2-2). NC State's 10 shots on the afternoon marked a season high for the team after tallying 9 strikes in two of its previous matches.
With the result, the last five matchups between NC State and North Carolina have been decided by one goal or less.
For the fifth time in its six matches on the season, the Wolfpack reached the halftime break with the tally knotted up, as the teams went scoreless in the first 45 minutes. The squads tallied two shots apiece in the opening period, with none of those attempts on target.
Things picked up in the second half during which the Wolfpack and the Tar Heels combined for 12 shots. NC State ended regulation with the 9-7 overall advantage in shots, with two of those second-half attempts coming on goal with saves by UNC goalkeeper Alec Smir.
NC State and UNC both found their best looks of regulation within a minute of one another late in the second half. In the 79th minute, Wolfpack sophomore Kendall Edwards got in the way of a close-range strike from Lucas del Rosario, and del Rosario's shot on the rebound from the deflection went just high.
The Pack then regained possession with the goal kick that followed. Brad Sweeney sent a ball into the box to Pau Palacin in the 80th minute, but Palacin's rip from the right was denied by Smir.
Two UNC shots went off the post in the opening minute of extra time. In the second overtime, Wolfpack striker Kuda Muskwe tried to capitalize on a takeaway, but his shot was blocked. Goalkeeper Leon Krapf was able to turn away a shot from UNC's Taff Wadda in the 109th minute to ensure that the match remained scoreless until full time.
The Wolfpack will return home to wrap up fall regular-season action on Saturday, Nov. 7 as it hosts Wake Forest. That match is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. from Dail Soccer Stadium, and it will be broadcast live on the ACC's Regional Sports Networks.
#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer
