Dylan Ribott
Redshirt Junior forward Aidan Payne looks toward the goal during the game against Clemson in Dail Soccer Stadium on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. Markovic played 38 minutes. NC State defeated Clemson 1-0.
The Fighting Irish, who could barely keep up with the Wolfpack when they had 11 men, stood no chance when they went down to 10, as the Pack’s second-half forward pairing both ended up on the score sheet.
Traveling over 700 miles northwest, No. 6 NC State’s (10-1-2, 3-1-2 ACC) typical unbreakable defense was on full display against Notre Dame (7-3-4, 2-2-2 ACC). But a lapse in judgment in the 46th minute ultimately brought the Irish to their knees.
Deadlocked at zero entering halftime, the Pack fired eight shots but struggled to find the target. Junior forward Phillip Donavan, who leads the team and the nation with 15 goals this season, managed the only effort on goal, testing sophomore goalkeeper Blake Kelly but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Within 30 seconds of the second-half whistle, sophomore forward Stevie Dunphy was shown a straight red card for violent conduct. Junior midfielder Tyler Caton, returning from a red card and suspension in the loss to Virginia, was on the receiving end of the challenge. With the man advantage, NC State immediately applied pressure.
Within 20 minutes of the red card, it had already matched its first-half shot total but still could not find the right tool to break through the Irish defense.
Junior forward Aidan Payne proved to be that tool, scoring in the 67th and 77th minutes, while the inevitable Donavan found the back of the net just three minutes later in the 80th.
Taig Healy was credited with assists on both of Payne’s goals. He now has eight assists this season, claiming sole possession atop the Wolfpack statsheet in that category.
NC State finished with 28 shots, 10 on target. Notre Dame managed just one effort on goal, which senior goalkeeper Logan Erb saved with ease. Erb and the Wolfpack defense now boast 11 clean sheets in 13 games, the highest shutout rate in Division I men’s soccer.
Head coach Marc Hubbard’s squad now sits fourth in the ACC, following Duke’s 3-0 loss at Clemson today. The Blue Devils will have a chance to regain their spot when the Pack travels to Durham on Oct. 25, in what promises to be a game full of corners, as Duke averages the most corners per game in the nation while the Wolfpack rank second nationally.
The Pack now turn their attention to No. 19 UNC Greensboro (8-2-3) for its final non-conference game of the season, scheduled for next Tuesday at 6 p.m.