The Virginia men’s soccer team wraps up the regular season Thursday evening on the road, as the squad travels to Raleigh to face ACC foe N.C. State.
The Cavaliers (8-6-2, 2-4-1 ACC) enter the matchup on a three-game unbeaten streak, having most recently played Boston College to a hard-fought and scoreless draw last Friday. Although the team was only able to earn one point through the draw, they controlled play and tempo throughout, finishing the game with a 12-9 shot and 6-2 corner advantage.
With the tie, Virginia clinched a .500 or better record on the season, automatically thrusting the squad into contention for its 32nd consecutive NCAA Tournament bid.
The Wolfpack (10-8-0, 1-6) also enter Thursday’s contest on the upswing after a 3-2 victory against Virginia Military Institute Monday evening. Under trying weather conditions induced by Hurricane Sandy, N.C. State went up 3-0 early in the game and managed to hold on for the narrow win after the Keydets came surging back.
The Wolfpack have played a robust 18 games so far this season — the most in the ACC — and average a respectable 1.72 goals a game, good for third in conference.
Leading the way for N.C. State is junior Alex Martinez. Martinez, a creative attacking midfielder who transferred from High Point before this season, is currently second in the ACC with 28 points, including 10 goals.
Cavalier senior forward and tri-captain Will Bates has also tallied 10 goals this year, tied with Martinez for second in the conference — although Bates has accomplished the feat in two fewer games.
The ACC tournament is set to begin Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Editor’s Note: Scheduling complications from Hurricane Sandy prevented The Cavalier Daily from securing interviews for this preview.
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