CARY, N.C. — It’s the hope that kills.
After erasing a two-goal deficit to force a golden-goal overtime, No. 15 NC State men’s soccer conceded the deciding goal less than two minutes into extra time in a 3-2 loss to Washington, ending its first national championship appearance in program history.
On a cold night at First Horizon Stadium, the Wolfpack (16-2-4) looked dead in the water. Over 62 minutes in, NC State had dug itself into a two-goal deficit against the Huskies (16-6-2), appearing far removed from the team that had peaked as high as No. 1 in the United Soccer Coaches poll and dominated its way into the 2025 National Championship.
In the face of adversity, though, NC State didn’t blink. Just four minutes after allowing the second goal, it responded with its first score of the night — junior forward Donavan Phillip’s NCAA-leading 19th goal of the season — and with just three minutes remaining, senior midfielder Taig Healy found the back of the net to force a golden-goal overtime.
But it’s not enough to just come back. The game wasn’t over.
In overtime, Washington came hot out of the gate, looking considerably fresher and more dominant than NC State. Putting a dagger into the hearts of the home crowd, the Huskies scored just under two minutes into extra time, sealing the loss.
“Just devastated for the guys because I think they put on a good show,” said head coach Marc Hubbard. “A really good effort within the game to come down 2-0 and be in a situation like that and to show the character to come back.”
Trouble brewed early in NC State’s end as Washington maintained strong pressure in the offensive zone. It paid off for the Huskies toward the half’s end as senior goalkeeper Logan Erb misplayed a ball outside of the box. Washington capitalized on the opportunity and crashed in, earning a free look at the wide-open net.
The defensive struggles continued in the second half as Washington midfielder Joe Dale squeezed past the defense and made the Pack pay, putting the Huskies up two with less than 30 minutes to play.
“After the second goal, we brought it together and there was a feeling that there was plenty of time left,” Phillip said. “Trying to keep our heads, [we felt] ‘we have nothing to lose at this point, just go full out for it.’”
Phillip got the game back within reach, netting a spectacular goal after the ball pinballed around in the box, sending it in with his back facing the net. Still, the Pack was down a goal.
WE HAVE OURSELVES A GAME 🫨 Donavan Phillip with quite the acrobatic finish to put one on the board for the Wolfpack!!#MCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU / @PackMensSoccer pic.twitter.com/7ZAqL2Q0H2
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 16, 2025
Healy became NC State’s would-be hero when he rocketed the game-tying goal past Washington goalkeeper Jadon Bowton in the 87th minute, but it was just another day at the office for the man who scored in each of NC State’s final four tournament games, solidifying himself as one of the biggest playoff risers in NC State athletics history.
NEVER BACK DOWN, NEVER WHAT?!
TAIG HEALY EQUALIZES WITH UNDER 4 MINUTES ON THE BOARD 😱#MCollegeCup x 🎥 ESPNU / @PackMensSoccer pic.twitter.com/zD7WF2bZRQ
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) December 16, 2025
None of it would’ve happened if Healy hadn’t gambled on his coach, following Hubbard from the University of New Hampshire to a struggling team in the best conference in soccer, but for him, the choice was easy.
“I’d never left New Hampshire before, but I made the decision really quickly because of the trust in Hubbard,” Healy said. “Knowing the system, knowing how he wants to play, knowing the culture he builds with teams, that’s a really important one.”
The trust in Hubbard paid tenfold as he turned an NC State program that sat near the bottom of the conference into a national championship contender — the first such appearance for an NC State men’s team since 1983 — in just two years.
Hubbard put NC State soccer on the map and established a soccer culture at NC State that had been dormant for decades, evidenced by the thousands of red-clad Wolfpack fans that braved the elements to support their team on the biggest of stages and under the brightest of lights.
“Even outside of our team is just part of what our team culture is,” Healy said. “That’s been the main reason why we’ve made it this far. It was special to be a part of the culture and put the program back where it belongs.”
