NC State
1-0-0, 0-0-0
USC Upstate (Red Out)
0-1-0, 0-0-0
Pack Opens 2021 Campaign with 2-0 Victory Over Spartans
8/26/2021 9:57:00 PM | Men's Soccer
RALEIGH – The NC State men's soccer team (1-0) opened its 2021 season with an electric 2-0 home victory over the USC Upstate Spartans (0-1) on Thursday night.
The match marked NC State's first time playing in front of a full home crowd in nearly 740 days, and over 1,100 passionate Wolfpack fans were in attendance to cheer the squad on to the victory.
Freshman Luke Hille tallied a beauty of a goal in his Wolfpack debut, and goalkeeper Leon Krapf helped secure the team's clean sheet in what was his 21st career shutout.
NC State got on the board first in the 34th minute off an own goal by the Spartans, but it was Hille that lit up the crowd even further with his strike in the 40th minute. The Cary, N.C., native settled a ball from fellow rookie Henrique Santos and ripped a shot from nearly 30 yards out that finished in the upper 90.
Hille's goal came on the wave of a dominant first-half effort by the Wolfpack during which the squad out-shot USC Upstate 10-1. The Pack had opportunities to open up an even larger first-half advantage, including two attempts that went off the post. The Spartans, meanwhile, did not get a shot on target until the 50th minute.
In total, NC State ended the outing with an 18-4 advantage in shots, with seven of its attempts coming on goal. The Pack possessed the ball for nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of the outing, and limited USC Upstate to just the one shot on target.
Despite not finding the back of the net, Santos led the way for the team with six shots in his first game in Wolfpack uniform. In addition to Hille and Santos, who both earned the starting nod for NC State, Vusumzi Plamana, Yaniv Bazini and Cam Murray all made their debuts.
The Pack's season-opening home stand continues on Monday, Aug. 30 when it welcomes UNC Asheville to Raleigh. That match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. from Dail Soccer Stadium, and live video coverage will be provided by ACCNX.
#GoPack | @PackMensSoccer
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Team Stats
0
GOAL by NCSU TEAM.
33:09
Luke Hille (1)
Assisted By: Henrique Santos
GOAL by NCSU Hille, Luke Assist by Santos, Henrique.
39:30
