There were lots of question marks coming into the 2017 season for the NC State men’s soccer team, with an entirely new coaching staff and very unfamiliar roster taking the field for the Wolfpack.
Perhaps the biggest question on the field was who would replace graduated goalkeeper Alex McCauley, a three-year starter in net for the Pack. The answer came from a small, country-side village in Germany called Gochsheim in the form of freshman goalie Leon Krapf.
Krapf has since solidified his place in net for the Wolfpack, and is the defensive anchor for an upstart NC State team that sits tied for seventh in the ACC and has two victories over top-five opponents this year, the most recent of which came Saturday night at No. 5 Louisville.
NC State’s newfound success on the field has been somewhat of a surprise for a Wolfpack team that mustered only one conference win last year, and Krapf’s six shutouts are a big part of it. However, the goalie isn’t satisfied with just a few big wins.
“I think we only made the first step,” Krapf said. “To be honest, we didn’t achieve something big so far. We have to continue, we have to work very hard every single day. Stay humble, stick to our team values. That we really can achieve.”
Krapf started playing soccer when he was young in Germany in his hometown, before transferring to the youth academy at 1. FC Nürnberg, a professional team that currently plays in Germany’s second division.
Krapf also made appearances for German youth national teams, but when it came time to take the next step in his career, the opportunity that presented itself at NC State was too good to pass up.
“School and professional soccer, to combine those two things it’s very difficult in Germany,” Krapf said. “I had to decide whether I wanted to continue with my athletic or my academic career. Since I was a reasonable student and a good soccer player, I wanted to continue with both and that was only possible here in the United States.”
After being recruited by Pack associate head coach Jeff Negalha, Krapf visited NC State and was impressed by everything the program and school had to offer. The resources and high level of education were something that was attractive to Krapf, but the challenge that comes with a rebuilding program is what really drew the German goalkeeper in.
“I liked the challenge here at NC State,” Krapf said. “With the new soccer coaching staff who are really trying to turn this program around, to kind of take on the underdog role and achieve something new here is what I really like here at NC State.”
Krapf’s decision to join the Wolfpack was a big one for NC State, and the goalie was just one of many recruits that new head coach George Kiefer was able to secure in his first year at the helm of the program.
While other freshmen have been key to the rebuild, such as forward Manny Perez and midfielder David Loera, it is Krapf who is perhaps having the most notable impact early on, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Kiefer.
“Leon has been excellent. You look at him on and off the field, he just has a very good demeanor about him,” Kiefer said. “He expects to contribute and when he can come up with these saves that he comes up with, it helps the group a lot.”
NC State has been phenomenal defensively this season, allowing just 1.13 goals per game compared to last year’s 1.88. A big part of that has been Krapf, but the goalkeeper was quick to credit the entire team for that accomplishment.
“I’m happy that I’m able to help the team right away,” Krapf said. “The records are an achievement of the whole team. A shutout is not only an achievement of the goalkeeper, but our whole defense, which I include the forwards in our defense, has done a great job so far this season. I am happy that the defense part is going well so far.”
Krapf, and the entire freshman class, are making waves for the Pack, and the future is looking bright for NC State men’s soccer. While the German goalie has been reliable in goal for the Wolfpack all season, it has been more than his play that has stood out to Kiefer.
“Excellent person,” Kiefer said. “He’s a guy that I would love to have my children just shadow because he is really disciplined, but fun.”
