CARY, N.C. — History didn’t back NC State men’s soccer. Prior to Friday night, it had played Saint Louis four times in program history and hadn’t secured a single win. Additionally, it had never made it past the semifinals, most recently falling in 1990.
But head coach Marc Hubbard makes his own path. He took over a struggling Wolfpack team that sat near the bottom of the ACC in 2023, and just two years later gave the Pack (15-2-4) its first win over the Billikens (13-2-8) and its first national championship berth — all within Hubbard’s second season at the helm.
“I think I expect to win every single game,” Hubbard said. “We have the ability, both on attack and defensively, that if we do what we’re supposed to do, then we’re going to give ourselves a great chance.”
But the Wolfpack didn’t secure its 2-1 victory easily. After an hour of dominating the ball and producing dozens of chances, NC State couldn’t get it past Saint Louis goalie Jeremi Abonnel. Blocking shots, relentlessly pressuring and even saving a penalty kick, the Billikens stayed alive.
Finally, in the 69th minute, a header from junior forward Donavan Phillip broke the game open as Saint Louis couldn’t hold off the nation’s leading goal scorer.
THAT MAN DONOVAN PHILLIP PUTS THE TEAM ON HIS BACK WITH AN ELITE HEADER! WOLFPACK FINDS THE LEAD 💥#MCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU / @PackMensSoccer pic.twitter.com/tboQ6wRtsl
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 13, 2025
“I saw it was going top bins,” Phillip said. “I was like, ‘No way this is real right now.’”
Saint Louis pulled off a masterclass of sticking around, biding its time and striking when it could find a chance to break through. Even though it didn’t record a shot until the 65th minute, the Billikins maintained enough possession to keep the momentum from swinging totally in favor of the Wolfpack.
In the second half, NC State took firmer control but still could not get through. It came to a head when the Pack earned a penalty kick after a handball in the box. Senior midfielder Drew Lovelace fired his shot lower left — into the gloves of Abonnel — and another chance was thwarted.
“It’s a little frustrating because it’s a big game, we know we’re gonna get a lot of chances, and with the chances we get, we have to put it away early,” Phillip said. “I knew it was coming, it was just a matter of when … I know for a fact that if we get one or two, then there’s no team in the country that can come back.”
Phillip’s header on the cross from redshirt junior defender Isaac Heffess was heroic, but the Pack wasn’t finished. Freshman defender Riley Maloney helped increase the lead to two after masterfully weaving through the defense and feeding a beautiful cross that senior midfielder Taig Healy headed with authority into the net with just 18 minutes to play.
TAIG HEALY IS MEAN WITH THE FINISH 🙂↕️ Pack attack in full force! #MCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU / @PackMensSoccer pic.twitter.com/ZDWdaIbS5r
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 13, 2025
The score marked Healy’s fourth goal of the season, his third of the tournament. He was one of the most important players throughout the regular season, but has taken his offensive attack to the next level in win-or-go-home games, scoring in each of the Pack’s last three matches.
“Something Coach said a couple of weeks ago, the fighting mentality that any game could be my last,” Healy said. “I don’t know, it’s just something about the tournament.”
The Billikens didn’t cower, forging a late surge that put them within one goal. After a foul was called on Heffess in the box, Saint Louis fired the penalty into the net and was within striking distance with 10 minutes to play. But with the help of a fiery home-like crowd of almost 11,000, NC State found new life and stood tall to shut the door on Saint Louis.
“I plead that Wolfpack nation comes out again in a few days,” Hubbard said. “I think [the crowd] was really the difference tonight in terms of pushing us and giving us energy to get the W.”
NC State now stands on the precipice of greatness, just 90 minutes away from its first national championship victory. But first, it has to get past Washington on Monday, Dec. 15. First touch is set for 7:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPNU.
