This is one for the books. After the wins over Florida Atlantic University and Stretson, NC State moved up in the national poll, NC State Men’s soccer team was ranked No.2 in the national poll. This is a program best and there is still so much room to grow.

Now NC State is ranked at No.12 nationally. The Wolfpack is known primarily for their football team and their basketball teams but, soccer is stealing the show this year, with their great season. The Wolfpack has a record of 10-1-3.

The Wolfpack recently played on Oct.10 at home with a huge game against the Clemson Tigers. NC State hasn’t beaten Clemson since 2017.

On Oct. 10, NC State beat Clemson 1-0. Frankie DeFrancesco, a second-year forward, scored the only goal of the game in the 53rd minute.

There were many great attempts at a goal, but the one made by DeFrancesco was the only one to land for both teams. Not only was this the only goal of the game, but it was DeFrancesco’s first goal as a part of NC State since transferring from High Point University.

This game was also momentous for Logan Erb, a fourth-year goal keeper, who got his tenth clean sheet this year. A clean sheet is when a goal keeper stops a team from scoring any goals.

NC State won against Notre Dame away from home against all odds. Notre Dame tied against Virginia Tech in a game earlier this season. Virginia Tech is the only team that has beaten NC State this season. NC State has not beaten Notre Dame while playing away since 2019. With this win, NC State is ranked fourth in the conference, with Stanford, Clemson and Virginia ahead of them.

Not only did the Wolfpack win against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, they also have three players named on the 2025 Hermann Trophy Midseason Watch List: Logan Erb, Nikola Markovic and Donavan Phillip.

This is the most nominations from a single team this year. The Herman Trophy has been awarded to the top Division 1 soccer player since 1967 and it is a high honor for anyone to be nominated.

The next couple games will be pivotal for NC State as they head into the ACC tournament. With the win against Clemson in the tailwind, now they face the hard parts of their season — the games right before the ACC tournament.

This season is the best we ever had with NC State soccer, they were ranked the highest they have ever been ranked in program history and they are on the road to further success. This is just the start for the Wolfpack. Off to have a great season and a great time in the playoffs. Go Pack!

TEAM STATS

(as of Oct.19)

Goals: 33

Goals per a game: 2-3

Shots: 259

Shots percentage: 0.127

Shots on goal: 104-259

Shots on goal percentage: 0.402