NC State knocks off Saint Louis to advance to program’s first-ever national championship

CARY — Tickets were selling for nearly $400 in the days leading up to the most-anticipated NC State men’s soccer match in the last 35 years. It seemed outlandish to some, but Marc Hubbard had turned the Wolfpack into a legitimate national title contender in just his second season at the helm with the squad in its second-ever College Cup just under six miles away from its Raleigh-based home pitch. 

The Red Terrors, the program’s supporters section, didn’t disappoint, either. WakeMed Soccer Park felt as if it was in the middle of NC State’s campus with cheers echoing throughout the sold-out 10,000-seat stadium all night, despite a blistering cold 33-degree kickoff temperature. 

It took 69 minutes for the raucous crowd to be rewarded with a goal, including a saved penalty kick in the 61st, as redshirt junior midfielder Isaac Heffess found junior forward Donavan Phillip’s head on a beauty of a cross to break the scoreless draw. 

While it appeared that would be all the Wolfpack needed, a timely second tally from senior midfielder Taig Healy proved to be beneficial as it held on to knock off Atlantic 10 champion Saint Louis 2-1 on Friday night — the program’s first-ever win at the College Cup.

NC State will play Washington for the NCAA Division I title Monday night at 7 p.m.

Phillip, who netted his 18th tally of the season, converted on his fourth shot of the game as he led the Wolfpack’s dangerous offense for much of the cold December night. The talented striker was due to break through, and it fittingly came through the air.

The Pack, as a team, outshot the Billikens 20-5 for the game as it controlled the contest with its high-powered offense and its timely brick wall of a defensive back line to earn its first College Cup victory. 

NC State opened the national semifinal with its brand of soccer. The Wolfpack dominated the possession in the opening 21 minutes, lacing its first five shots as it attacked with authority. Its best chance came off a cross to Phillip inside the 18, but his header attempt sailed just wide of frame in the early going.

Although the Pack was able to assert itself in the opening two dozen minutes, referee Austin Saini tried to take control of what appeared to be getting chippy. He called 10 fouls on NC State in the first half, seven of which arrived in the waning 20 minutes of the period, which allowed Saint Louis to play with possession down the stretch. 

While the Billikens were able to get forward with possession, the Wolfpack’s stonewall defense was able to hold firm — albeit playing with a fuming sense of frustration in the process. NC State didn’t allow Saint Louis to record a shot attempt in the first half, owning that category with an 8-0 advantage (just one was on frame requiring a save from Billikens keeper Jeremi Abonnel) by the halftime break.

NC State’s scoreless first half was its first since Syracuse blanked the Wolfpack in the ACC Tournament after it found the back of the net in the opening 10 minutes of each of its first three NCAA Tournament games to reach the College Cup.

The Wolfpack was able to control play for much of the second half, including the saved penalty kick, as it outshot the Billikens 12-5 in the final 45 minutes. Saint Louis didn’t even fire its first shot of the game until the 65th minute, a harmless long-range strike that goalkeeper Logan Erb corralled with ease. 

Once the dam broke as Phillip buried his header, NC State’s offense was able to hit its stride. Healy used his own noggin to double the Wolfpack’s lead four minutes later to give the Wolfpack breathing room in the waning 20 minutes of action.

NC State didn’t have to change its identity with the lead, rather it tried to lean on its strong back line as it did all night long to hold on to the historic victory. Saint Louis, though, made it interesting as it converted on a penalty in the 81st minute to cut the Pack’s lead in half after the team committed its 18th foul of the night, but the ACC squad was able to do enough to earn the win.

As each second waned in the final minute, the thousands of Wolfpack fans in attendance seemed to combust with joy with the realization that their team is now 90 minutes away from earning its first national title. 

All that separates NC State from hoisting the trophy now is a date with Washington, who will easily be outnumbered by the Pack faithful in a game that will be the hottest ticket in the Triangle.