Courtesy: Karl DeBlaker http://www.gopack.com/ Will Mackvick made three saves in his collegiate debut Sunday
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State and Mercer played to a 1-1 draw Sunday afternoon at NC State Soccer Stadium in the first game played by the men’s soccer team at the new on-campus facility.
The match was originally scheduled for Saturday night, but lightning and heavy rain in the Triangle postponed the season opening match for the two squads.
After a scoreless first half, Federico Nachmann scored off a feed from Chrystel Bakong in the 65th minute for a 1-0 lead for the Wolfpack.
The advantage was short lived as Mercer capitalized on a NC State foul just over three minutes later. Thomas Kneer started the set piece by rolling the ball to Bolade Ogunmade and he blasted a shot from some 35-yards out into the upper-left corner to knot the score at 1-1.
NC State’s Alan Sanchez nearly got the lead back with a shot that went just wide midway through second half in the 71st minute.
The best remaining scoring opportunity came at 82:01 when Ronnie Bouemboue rifled a shot that grazed the outside of the right post.
NC State controlled play throughout the two 10-minute overtime periods, out shooting Mercer, 6-0.
The Wolfpack had the best scoring chances in the first half in the 14th minute. Kris Byrd hauled in a clearing attempt by the Bears and found Bouemboue, who wheeled towards goal and fired a low shot that keeper David Bird (eight saves) dove for and punched away to keep the match scoreless.
Later in the 32nd minute Mercer’s Thomas Knerr put a shot on net that Wolfpack keeper Will Mackvick (three saves) grabbed for his lone save of the opening stanza.
The Wolfpack held a 22-8 advantage in shots, while Mercer had six of the match’s eight corner kicks.
NC State returns to action next Friday against American in the first game of the Duke/adidas Tournament in Durham at 5 p.m.
Courtesy: Karl DeBlaker
