No. 15 NC State men’s soccer opened its NCAA Tournament journey with a resounding 2-0 victory over Marshall — the 2024 runner-up.

As it has all season, the Pack (13-2-4) found its best offensive success on the corner kick, with both goals versus the Herd (12-4-5) coming on such set pieces. Third in Division I in corner kicks per game with 7.61, NC State has produced quality chances on set pieces throughout the fall. That trend continued against Marshall. First with a header by junior forward Donavan Phillip, and then an ‘Olympico’ by freshman defender Riley Maloney, the Pack found its bread and butter.

“It’s great to have someone who consistently can deliver the ball to one spot, and you can build stuff around that,” said head coach Marc Hubbard.

A dream start for the Wolfpack came in the second minute when Maloney delivered one of his signature inswinging corners. The Marshall goalkeeper couldn’t deal with it, whiffing his punch, and Phillip immediately pounced, heading the ball into the back of the net for his 16th goal of the season — moving to second in Division I in total goals.

The Pack gifted the Herd a chance to level the game shortly thereafter, as junior forward Joao Roberto was wide open outside the box after the Pack gave it away in the build-up. He fired a low-driven shot towards the bottom right corner, but senior goalkeeper Logan Erb was equal to the effort, making a full-stretch save to preserve the lead.

In the 36th minute, Erb launched a long clearance forward, Phillip was able to head it forward and redshirt junior forward Aidan Payne collected it at full pace, driving forward with the ball into a 1-on-1 position with the goalkeeper. His shot was powerful but just wide, resulting in a goal kick.

“Knowing that a team that’s as good defensively as us, trying to change the game and trying to score goals against us, is pretty hard,” Phillip said. “We were confident in our back line, and we knew we have so many shutouts. I think it’s 15 or 14.”

The Pack controlled first-half possession and threatened the Marshall goal significantly, recording nine shots with four on target, yet it couldn’t find another score, leaving room for the Herd to fight their way back into the game.

Marshall opened the second half with a few threatening moves, but none materialized. In the 58th minute, Maloney delivered another curling, inswinging corner that the Marshall goalkeeper misjudged, allowing it to slip directly into the net. The goal was Maloney’s second of the year and couldn’t have come at a more opportune time, growing the Wolfpack’s lead to 2-0.

“Every time it goes out for a corner, I’m there straight away, me and [junior midfielder Tyler Caton],” Maloney said. “We love taking the corners and any set piece, it’s something that I’m confident with and the boys, the coaches, are confident I can put it in the right place, so as I put it in the right place, I’m happy and it worked today.”

The Herd managed two shots on goal in the closing stretch of the game, in minutes 80 and 86, but Erb comfortably saved each en route to his 11th clean sheet of the year.

Securing revenge against the team that eliminated it last year in the Sweet 16, the Wolfpack secured a bid back to the third round.

“There are guys that were there and their seasons ended last year, so it’s hard not to point to that,” Hubbard said. “But also, [it’s] a completely new team as well. So, in many ways, last year has no bearing on how tonight went.”

After No. 2 seed Virginia fell to unseeded UNC-Greensboro, the Pack will host one more NCAA Tournament game. The Wolfpack takes on the Spartans Sunday, Nov. 30, at Dail Soccer Park. First touch is set for 6 p.m.