Jermaine Hudson
NC State fans cheer during the soccer match against UNC-Chapel Hill at Dail Soccer Field on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. This game broke the attendance record with over 4,000 attendees being in the stadium. NC State tied with UNC 0-0.
No. 5 NC State battled to an intense scoreless draw against unranked rival North Carolina in front of a record-breaking crowd.
The 5,083 fans in attendance don’t even include the hundreds of fans crowded on the top two levels of Reynolds Deck and outside the stadium fence — undoubtedly adding to a remarkable atmosphere.
“If you compare this environment to our game at UNC last year, it’s not even close,” said head coach Marc Hubbard. “So the fact that we walk out in warm ups and the place is packed, and loud [with] noise, that is just stuff that our guys will always remember.”
While the Wolfpack’s attack couldn’t match the atmosphere, on the back end, senior goalkeeper Logan Erb was the star, posting another clean sheet and extending a scoreless run on the young season.
“It’s a testament to how far this team has come,” Erb said. “Last year, that was one of our biggest critiques … To have a back line that’s as solidified as this one, my front four, my back four — the guys in front of me are unbelievable.”
The Pack (3-0-1) struggled early to break the Tar Heels’ (3-1-1) pressure, surrendering the ball multiple times. UNC failed to capitalize, only registering two first half shots on goal, and a few set pieces, that caused the Wolfpack defense difficulties.
The Pack grew into the game, managing four first-half shots on goal, most noticeably in the 25th minute when junior forward Donavan Phillip controlled a long ball forward from defense, turned and fired a powerful shot on goal. North Carolina senior goalkeeper Andrew Cordes made a diving save. Junior forward Aidan Payne claimed the rebound and put the ball in the net. After reviewing the play, however, the officials ruled the play offsides.
Senior midfielder Taig Healy managed two first half shots on goal in the 31st and 33rd minutes, but neither had enough power to challenge the North Carolina goalkeeper.
NC State and North Carolina entered halftime scoreless.
In the 50th minute, following a chaotic corner, a Carolina turnover gave Payne the ball, who sent it toward the UNC goalkeeper who made a reflex save, pushing the ball out for a corner. The Tar Heels controlled the subsequent corner and launched a counter attack, where Payne received a yellow for pulling down a Tarheel player.
Phillip, the Pack’s leading goalscorer, received a through-ball from the midfield in the 73rd minute and fired a shot from a tight angle with his left foot, unable to put it past the UNC keeper — the final shot on-goal from either team.
Two minutes later, senior fullback Calem Tommy sent Phillip a pass between multiple UNC defenders, who made a quick move before launching a powerful strike off the woodwork, though the Pack could not find nylon. Unable to cash in their last great scoring chance, the Pack was shut out.
“We know we left something out on the field today,” Hubbard said. “We’re going to wake up still feeling hungry.”
North Carolina failed to register a single shot on goal in the second half, but it did have two dangerous corners in the final 10 minutes of gameplay. The Pack dealt with both and claimed their fourth-consecutive clean sheet to start the season.
“I really credit our guys in the last two minutes for blocking shots, [clearing] one off the line,” Hubbard said. “Some of that stuff maybe goes unknown or you forget about it, but that’s the type of mentality and discipline and character that you need over the course of the season.”
The Pack will host Stetson on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m.