With its 1-1 draw away against Louisville, the NC State men’s soccer team has hit the midway point of the season, and the No. 22-ranked Wolfpack has exceeded expectations so far. The team has suffered just two losses, a 2-1 slip at Davidson and a 1-0 defeat to the defending national champions, Virginia, in Charlottesville.
Now, the Pack (6-2-1) looks to the business end of the schedule, with a brutal run of games against some of the top programs in the country during the next few weeks. It only gets tougher from here on out, and if NC State is to finally land an elusive spot in the NCAA Tournament, the team must learn from what’s worked and what hasn’t worked from August to October, specifically its solid defense and excellent team organization.
When Conor Donovan announced he was headed to MLS instead of staying for his sophomore season, the Pack’s defensive prospects looked grim. Having already lost senior Clement Simonin to Toronto FC and with both 2014 right backs, Matt Ingram and Ryan Metts, graduated, what once looked like a defensive wall was full of holes.
Then, sophomore center back Matias Fracchia broke his toe before the season, and incoming German center back Martin Bohmer was not yet fit after breaking his ankle in the spring.
Enter seniors Reed Norton and Holden Fender. Once teammates well before college, the two reunited at the heart of the defense. Norton, who played left back, left mid and center forward in 2014, adapted smoothly playing next to the team captain, Fender.
Normally a defensive midfielder, Fender’s intelligence, ability on the ball and leadership make him an ideal center back. Freed from chasing quicker players around the midfield, he’s provided size and superb distribution at the back, while Norton’s speed and power completes the partnership that’s conceded just seven goals when starting (the Pack’s conceded 10 on the season, three coming when the partnership was broken up).
On the right, German freshman Simon Blotko has replicated the defensive stability offered by Ryan Metts but has chipped in with three assists in eight games, while sophomore Caleb Duvernay has had a blistering campaign so far with two goals and two assists.
Sweeping up in front of the back four has been the immensely impressive Cameron Steele. The sophomore defensive midfielder made the biggest jump of any player on the team from 2014 to 2015, going from role player to near indispensable starter. In his only inactive match, the Pack struggled against a weak Gardner-Webb team, conceding three goals en route to a narrow 4-3 win.
In goal, senior keeper Alex McCauley has adapted into a modern “sweeper keeper,” playing well off his line and aiding the team in possession of the ball. Essentially, McCauley becomes another field player, staying calm with the ball at his feet.
This unit has allowed the technically talented attacking group to flourish. Junior Yanni Hachem, sophomore Zach Knudson and freshman Julius Duchscherer work hard to defend positionally but have license to attack at will.
Combined with the rotating group of forwards, the Pack can and should compete against some of the top-ranked teams in the country without having to resort to a defend-and-counterattack approach.
The stellar defensive unit must be kept together even with players returning from injury, and the team should look to be bold in attack, knowing that Fender, Norton and co. have it covered at the back.
