NC State men’s soccer reaches No. 1 ranking for first time in program history

Each time Marc Hubbard convenes his team for training or a game, he stresses the importance of protecting a shutout when given the opportunity. While that’s usually the goal, NC State men’s soccer has been able to embody that through each of its first eight matches this fall. 

The Wolfpack (7-0-1) has yet to concede a goal as it rides one of its best starts in school history — only to be outdone by the 1985 team’s 9-0-1 mark through the first 10 games — to become the final program to only turn in blank sheets in all of Division I this season. 

“Not giving up a goal and being the only team left to do that is pretty cool,” Hubbard said.
“We’ve taken a lot of pride in that, and you can see that as we’re finishing games out and we’re putting other guys in

NC State’s dominant start, which has been aided by a nation’s best plus-25 goal differential, has allowed the Wolfpack to surge up the national rankings this year. And, now, for the first time in program history, NC State checked in at No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll on Tuesday afternoon. 

The Wolfpack headlined a group of six ACC teams within the top 25 rankings this week, joined by Stanford (No. 6), Virginia (No. 12), Wake Forest (No. 13), Duke (No. 16) and Notre Dame (No. 21). 

As NC State has made a steady rise through the national rankings, it has brought more eyeballs to the Wolfpack’s men’s soccer program. The team set a new attendance record with 5,083 fans at its scoreless draw against North Carolina earlier this month, while it expects to have crowded stands at its four remaining regular season home matches. 

For Hubbard, who guided NC State to a remarkable turnaround from 6-9-3 mark in 2023 to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1991 in his first campaign with the Wolfpack last fall, the program appreciates the attention, but still believes it has room to improve as it prepares for the back half of its schedule — headlined by an ACC gauntlet. 

“I think it’s not something to dwell on too much, at the moment,” Hubbard said. “You’re just day by day and thinking about the next task at hand, taking each game as a season in itself. Over the course of time, that usually adds up if people can stay healthy.”

Not only does NC State lead the NCAA in most shutouts this season as senior goalkeeper Logan Erb has posted eight straight, it is also first in the country in total goals (25), total points (78) and in corners per game (9.5), while its second in shots per game (21.50). 

Junior striker Donavan Phillip, meanwhile, is the NCAA’s leading goal scorer with 12 this fall, including a pair of hat trick performances this fall. The former Oakland transfer has scored at least one goal in each of the last four games, netting eight over that span. 

Phillip was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday to reward his four goals in 28 minutes against William & Mary before he added two more at Boston College in the Wolfpack’s two matches last week. Erb, meanwhile, earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors for two more shutout performances.

It’s not a surprise that NC State has become one of the most high-powered offenses as its defense found its footing since it’s a byproduct of the scheme that Hubbard wants to play. And with this being his second season in Raleigh, the veteran coach’s style is rounding into form with his overhauled roster. 

“It’s just been more time insinuating the same message and system of how we want to play and taking pride in our defensive approach,” Hubbard said. “In the way that we play defense, it also leads to creating more attacking opportunities. It’s more of a numbers game. If you’re able to create more corners, more shots on target, generate more second and third wave chances, then good things will happen.”

NC State has eight matches left, including six remaining in league play, and Hubbard is well aware the No. 1 ranking isn’t going to win those games on its own. 

Instead, the Wolfpack is focused on taking care of business in every match left before it can focus on the postseason with a possible run to the ACC Championship or the College Cup, both of which are hosted at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

“It’s a fun ride so far,” Hubbard said. “I think it’s exciting to think about the prospect of a Final Four and ACCs in Cary, the national tournament stuff, but so much has to happen before then, including some luck and timing, to get there. But you can be proud of the guys for the start that we’ve had, you just have to keep going.”