The No. 20 ranked NC State men’s soccer team earned a 2-1 comeback win against No. 14 South Carolina Tuesday night at Dail Soccer Stadium.

Despite dominating the first half in terms of territory and possession, the Wolfpack (7-2-3, 1-1-3 ACC) failed to find the back of the net and entered the half scoreless. Less than two minutes after halftime, the Gamecocks (7-4-1) scored off a corner kick, but NC State would score twice in the last 15 minutes, including a brilliant solo goal from sophomore midfielder Zach Knudson, to earn the upset.

“A ranked opponent, a high RPI game and they’re a very good team,” NC State head coach Kelly Findley said. “This was a huge win for us, especially to come back. I think we’ve shown that character all year. The guys didn’t panic, they just kept playing, and we scored two great goals.”

In the first half, NC State’s emphasis on having possession of the ball and building play through its outside backs saw the team own the first few minutes. Sophomore forward Ade Taiwo had a good early chance, and sophomore left back Caleb Duvernay sent a number of crosses into the box, but the team was frustrated by last-ditch tackles and blocks from the Gamecocks’ defense. 

On the other end, the formidable Wolfpack defense was typically solid, limiting South Carolina to a few sporadic chances. At the half, however, the teams remained knotted 0-0, with the Gamecocks holding a slight advantage in shots, 4-3.

NC State would find itself down a goal shortly after halftime, when a dangerous corner kick was headed home by Gamecocks senior forward Jeffrey Torda.

“I’m disappointed to give up another goal on a corner,” Findley said. “You’ve got to be able to defend that. We have to clean that up … We trained it last week and thought we got a little bit better at it, but we still gave one away.”

Down a goal, the Pack redoubled its intensity in attack. Freshman forward Ryan Peterson sent a shot skimming off the post, and Taiwo began to press the issue, using his size and strength to back into defenders, get turned with the ball and dribble toward goal.

It was Peterson who finally found the net in the 76th minute of play, latching onto a cross from Knudson with a twisting leap and acrobatically flicking the ball with his head into the far corner.

“I saw [Peterson] and someone else in the box and I hit it,” said Knudson, describing his part on the tying goal. “It was to either one of them and luckily Ryan got his head on it and scored, which was great for us.”

The match seemed to be heading for overtime, but an unassisted moment of brilliance from Knudson in the 87th minute gave State its first win of the season against a ranked opponent. After receiving the ball on the right, Knudson took off towards goal, weaving his way through the Gamecocks’ defense and leaving a trail of players in his wake before slotting the ball past South Carolina’s sophomore goalkeeper William Pyle.

“I didn’t realize I was that close to goal,” Knudson said. “The next thing I know I’m in front and I just had to tap it in … I do it in FIFA.”

With the win, NC State’s second in as many seasons against the Gamecocks, the Pack broke a streak of ties against ranked opponents in Wake Forest, Notre Dame and Louisville.

“It’s nice to get that momentum,” senior captain Holden Fender said. “I think we were, not necessarily in a funk because we were playing well, but you don’t want to get used to tying games, you want to get used to winning games. It’s nice to finally get over that hump and get a win and hopefully we can keep that rolling into our next couple games.”

The come-from-behind victory isn’t NC State’s first this season. The team previously beat ACC-opponent Boston College 2-1 in extra time, and the team’s resilience has impressed Findley.

“I think persistence, sticking to the plan and not panicking when we gave up a goal,” said Findley, describing what won the game. “We didn’t change anything, and I think the guys just wanted to win is what the game came down to.

The Wolfpack travels to Duke Friday for a pivotal ACC matchup, seeking its second win in conference.