Oct. 4, 2015
Box Score | Notre Dame at North Carolina State, 10/4/15 
RALEIGH, N.C. — A gritty performance by North Carolina State on its home field controlled the run of play during the first 90 minutes, but the University of Notre Dame men’s soccer team persevered throughout Sunday’s Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) showdown. A first half goal by sophomore forward Jon Gallagher and a late flurry in extra time enabled the No. 7/4 Irish to claim a 1-1 draw against the No. RV/21 Wolfpack at the Dail Soccer Stadium.
NC State (6-2-2, 1-1-2 ACC) outshot Notre Dame (7-2-2, 2-1-1 ACC) 23-11 for the match, but the Irish were the prime aggressors during the overtime periods. Notre Dame grinded out a 6-1 shot edge during the extra 20 minute, including a 4-0 cushion in double overtime.
NC State had the first offensive chance in the fifth minute, as Ade Taiwo blasted a right-footed attempt from the top of the box that was blocked by the Notre Dame defense out of bounds. The Irish back line was able to clear the zone on the ensuing corner kick.
Evan Panken sent a dangerous cross from the left corner into the Wolfpack zone in the 11th minute, but the NC State defense was able to head the ball out of the box to stall the Irish threat.
Taiwo alertly gathered a Notre Dame turnover just outside the left of the 18 in the 21st minute and sent a chance toward the near post. The ball narrowly carried out of play.
Taiwo got loose for an additional scoring opportunity on the Notre Dame net in the 30th minute, but his shot attempt missed the right post and went out of bounds.
Against the run of play, the Irish made the most of their first shot attempt of the match. Panken served a great looping corner kick from the left flag, which Brandon Aubrey met with a forceful header toward the right post. Gallagher flew into the six-yard box and re-directed the ball with a diving header into the goal for his seventh of the year at 33:58, giving Notre Dame a 1-0 lead.
NC State had a final chance to find the equalizer at the end of the first half. Caleb Duvernay got loose in the Notre Dame third, ripping a shot that was turned aside by Chris Hubbard to preserve the 1-0 Irish lead at halftime.
Aubrey slipped behind the Wolfpack back line for the first Notre Dame second half scoring chance in the 58th minute. An NC State turnover enabled Aubrey to take a clear path toward the net, where his shot was saved by Alex McCauley.
A Notre Dame foul straight on at the top of the 18-yard box gave NC State a clear look at a free kick in the 60th minute. Zach Knudson ripped his right-footed try over the crossbar and out of play.
NC State threatened to strike again in the 64th minute. A great through ball up the right flank found a cutting Taiwo in front. The Wolfpack attacker connected on an artful right on the run, but Hubbard made a terrific save to turn the shot away.
Gallagher found space over the top of NC State defense in the 69th minute, making a great run to gather a long lob in the Wolfpack zone. Gallagher’s run to the right post beat the keeper McCauley, but caromed off the outside of the iron and out of play.
NC State finally found its equalizer in the 76th minute. Julius Duchscherer served a looping cross into the center of the box, which Knudson met with a remarkable bicycle kick from 12 yards out into the left corner to square the contest at 75:32.
A Notre Dame handball at the top of the box inside of the final 30 seconds of regulation set the Wolfpack up with a great free kick chance to win the contest. Taiwo’s attempt was blocked away by the Irish defense, sending the game to extra time.
After Notre Dame logged a pair of promising chances early in the first overtime period, NC State had its own try at the win. Phillip Carmon ripped a hard shot toward the upper corner of the net that Hubbard expertly punched over the frame to force a second extra session.
Gallagher nearly turned an NC State giveaway into the game-winner in the 102nd minute. Making a well-timed run up the right flank, Gallagher’s shot toward the far post went out of bounds.
Notre Dame had an additional chance of its own inside the match’s last minute to break the 1-1 tie. Panken sent an arching corner kick from the right flag to the front of the net, where an Aubrey header carried wide of the left post to clinch the final result.
The Irish return to Alumni Stadium to host Michigan on Wednesday in nonconference action. The 7 p.m. (ET) match will air live on ESPN3 through the WatchESPN player.
Oct. 4, 2015
No. 7/4 Notre Dame 1, No. RV/21 North Carolina State 1 (2OT)
Dail Soccer Stadium (Raleigh, N.C.)
No. 7/4 Notre Dame 1 0 0 0 — 1
No. RV/21 North Carolina State 0 1 0 0 — 1
ND 1. Jon Gallagher (7) (Brandon Aubrey, Evan Panken), 33:58; NCSU 1. Zach Knudson (4) (Julius Duchscherer), 75:32.
Shots: NCSU 23 (11-11-1-0), ND 11 (1-4-2-4)
Shots on goal: NCSU 6 (2-3-1-0), ND 2 (1-1-0-0)
Saves: NCSU 1 (Alex McCauley 1 in 110:00), ND 5 (Chris Hubbard 5 in 110:00)
Corner Kicks: NCSU 10 (5-4-1-0), ND 5 (2-1-1-1)
Fouls: NCSU 10, ND 8
Offsides: NCSU 1, ND 2
Yellow Cards: Max Lachowecki (ND) 99:04
Attendance: 588
–ND–
— Tony Jones, Athletics Communications Assistant