NC State men’s soccer is one step closer to history after a cold, rain-soaked night at Dail Soccer Field, knocking off North Carolina Greensboro 2-0 in the NCAA Sweet 16 and advancing to its first Elite Eight since 1992.
“You work hard all year to be able to earn the edge in home games in these moments,” said head coach Marc Hubbard. “Tonight, when it’s rainy and cold, and the entire stadium is filled, it’s a wonderful memory and event.”
From the opening whistle, the Wolfpack (14-2-4) leaned on its defensive identity, led by ACC Goalkeeper of the Year senior Logan Erb. The Spartans (12-5-6) struggled to get on the attack — but when they did, Erb had the answer, finishing with three saves to secure his 15th clean sheet of the season.
“We have some of the best defenders and the best goalkeeper in the country,” said junior forward Donavan Phillip. “So you know, if we can score a goal, we know we’re going to shut the game out and then end up victorious.”
The breakthrough came almost immediately. Senior midfielder Taig Healy found nylon just five minutes into the match, giving NC State an early lead and setting the tone for the night. The quick strike forced UNCG to chase for the remainder of the night.
TAIG HEALY
6′ | (15) NC STATE 1, UNCG 0#PackMentality pic.twitter.com/7Nz1uWFfTq
— NC State Men’s Soccer (@PackMensSoccer) November 30, 2025
After generating several chances in the first half without converting, Phillip delivered the decisive blow in the 79th minute. The ACC Offensive Player of the Year buried his opportunity to double the lead and put the match out of reach, notching his 17th goal this season.
“[Donavan]’s been a guy we’ve leaned on to score in a bunch of different ways,” Hubbard said. “He had a couple of moments in the first half that he wished he had back, but he kept at it… proud of him and I’m happy to be playing another week.”
The defining moment of the night, however, came on the defensive end. In the 62nd minute, with NC State clinging to its one-goal lead, Erb charged out to challenge a UNCG breakaway, exposing a wide-open net. Freshman defenseman Riley Moloney raced back and cleared the would-be tying goal off the line, preserving the advantage and igniting the crowd.
Not getting past this freshman ❌ pic.twitter.com/0nu3rm4DEO
— NC State Men’s Soccer (@PackMensSoccer) December 1, 2025
“He celebrates it like it’s a goal. That gives the rest of the team motivation,” Heely said. “We have guys making fights like that all year. Riley was brilliant today and has been all year.”
Erb echoed that praise, crediting the entire back line for the mentality that produced the season-defining stop.
“Everyone sees that and is like, ‘Oh, my God, what a play!’ But these guys do this every day in training; it’s almost innate to them,” Erb said. “I gave [Moloney] the biggest hug after, and I can’t be more thankful for what he does, but the whole back four would do it on any night.”
With the victory, NC State now sits one win away from its first College Cup appearance since 1990 and just the second in program history. Awaiting the Wolfpack in the Elite Eight is Georgetown in a rematch of the 2024 NCAA Round of 32, where NC State beat the No. 4 Hoyas 2-0.
For Phillip, the moment carries added meaning. Selected in the third round of the MLS SuperDraft last winter, the junior elected to return for another season with the belief that this group could make a deep postseason run.
“That’s why I came back,” Phillip said. “I knew we were going to have a good team returning. … We knew from the time we got into the tournament that we were going to make a run and make something happen.”
NC State will head to Washington, D.C., this Friday, Dec. 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
