Despite playing two games in three days under strenuous heat and exhaustion, the men’s soccer team tallied two wins this weekend in the Wolfpack Classic at Method Road Soccer Stadium.
N.C. State edged Valparaiso 2-1 Friday and went on to shutout Delaware 1-0 on Sunday afternoon.
According to sophomore midfielder Jorge Mora, opening the season with two wins was rewarding after hard work in the off-season.
“It’s a great feeling obviously getting to start the season off on the right foot,” Mora said. “And we worked hard during the preseason, and we’ll keep on working hard from now on.”
Mora scored the game-winning goal in Sunday’s game with under seven minutes to play in regulation, as he was awarded a free kick from 19 yards out after Delaware goalie Taylor Thames used his hands outside of the goalie’s box.
Mora credited his teammates, particularly the defense, for the win.
“I got the opportunity, and I was able to convert it, but it was a team effort,” Mora said. “Obviously, we didn’t give up any goals, so the defense and the goalie also had a big part in it.”
Mora said Sunday’s game was not the first time he had been put in a pressure situation with a game on the line.
“I have had big shots before, but to be honest, I haven’t always come through,” Mora said. “It feels great to get the team a win today.”
Friday’s game proved “brutal,” according to coach George Tarantini. Senior Ernesto Di Laudo scored the first goal of the game on an assist from Mora, before Valparaiso tied the game going into the half. Sophomore Orry Powers scored the go-ahead goal on assists from junior Alberto Ramos and sophomore Alan Sanchez to seal the Pack victory.
According to Tarantini, there was no set MVP in the Classic, rather a collective team effort.
“I have to give the leadership, the captains, a lot of credit. But I have to tell you the goalkeeper [Christopher Widman] played really well. He had a couple key saves — he kept us in the game,” Tarantini said. “I think it was a total effort. Jorge played pretty well, but I think everybody shares. Like I said before, we don’t have one specific player, but I think everybody collectively is doing a good job.”
Tarantini added that the physical play of the games, along with the heat, wore on his team physically. Tarantini combated this issue with a barrage of substitutions to keep fresh bodies on the field as much as possible.
“We need to see if we can maintain this same intensity,” Tarantini said. “Our league is brutal — absolutely brutal — so we need to prepare for that and prove ourselves more consistent. Overall, I like the results, we used a lot of players, and I think it will take a little time but eventually we’ll be OK.”
The team will again have to deal with two games in three days, as it travels to Durham for the Duke Adidas Classic for games Friday and Sunday.
“Your body obviously suffers,” Mora said. “You get hit all the time, and it’s hard to recuperate in less than a day to play another 90-minute game. We have to do it, because it’s the schedule.”
