Lily McCabe
Senior defender Calem Tommy battles opponents for the ball during the match versus UNCG at Dail Soccer Field on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. NC State tied the match 1-1 with UNCG.
No. 3 NC State men’s soccer capped off non-conference play with a 1-1 draw against No. 18 UNC-Greensboro.
Early on, the Wolfpack (10-1-3) relentlessly pressured the Spartans (9-2-4) with dangerous set pieces. In the 18th minute, junior midfielder Tyler Caton delivered a deep corner that found senior midfielder Justin McLean making a late, unmarked run to the back post. McLean connected cleanly with a flying scissor kick, shaking the woodwork before the ball went out for a Spartan goal kick.
Only moments later, the Pack thought it had broken the deadlock when Riley Maloney’s corner was knocked into the net, but the referee immediately waved it off for a foul.
In the 20th minute, senior defender Calem Tommy surged down the right wing and whipped in a low cross that skipped through the six-yard box. Frankie DeFrancesco slid in feet first but couldn’t connect cleanly, sending his shot just wide from point-blank range.
The Spartans’ only notable first-half chance came in the 25th minute. A deep UNCG free kick found senior defender Sami Lackekar, who turned and fired toward the goal. The ever-reliable Logan Erb reacted quickly, tipping the shot over the bar to keep the Spartans off the scoresheet — their lone attempt of the half.
Head coach Marc Hubbard’s side dominated possession, recording 10 shots and forcing four saves from UNCG redshirt junior goalkeeper Seth Wilson, yet entered halftime still scoreless.
The Spartans opened the second half with renewed urgency, maintaining pressure in the Wolfpack’s half and winning the ball high up the pitch. Their persistence paid off in the 55th minute when junior forward Enzo Dovlo unleashed a stunning long-range strike that dipped into the top-left corner, giving UNCG the lead out of nowhere.
Up a goal and on the road, the Spartans were content with dropping into a low block and forcing the Pack to produce something special. The Wolfpack swung countless crosses in from every imaginable angle, but just couldn’t find the right combination to break down the Spartan defense.
In the 84th minute, the Pack caught a break when UNCG sophomore defender Mohammed Sumaila contested for the ball in his penalty box; the ball bounced awkwardly and caught his arm. The Wolfpack fans erupted immediately, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Senior midfielder Drew Lovelace calmly stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way as he fired the ball right down Broadway to level the game.
“I knew as soon as there was a pen, I was taking it,” Lovelace said. “… I was just by myself, thinking about my spot, knowing where I was going to go, settling myself down.”
The match ended level, but the stat sheet told a different story. The Pack unleashed 25 shots — 12 on target, while the Spartans managed only four attempts with two on goal.
“Statistically, it’s a game that obviously favored us heavily, but we need to do better,” Hubbard said. “There are moments where the ball just doesn’t bounce our way in weird spots in the box.”
The Wolfpack closes non-conference play with a 7-0-1 record, scoring 24 goals and conceding just one. The result marks back-to-back undefeated non-conference regular seasons for Hubbard to start his NC State tenure.
Next, the Pack travels to face No. 19 Duke (7-1-6, 3-1-2 ACC) Saturday at 7 p.m. The matchup is sure to feature plenty of corners, as the Blue Devils are the only Division I team averaging more corners per game than NC State.