DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NC State (11-1-3) defeated Duke (7-2-6) 2-0 in a heated Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on Saturday that saw two Wolfpack players sent off. Justin Mclean opened the scoring in the 5th minute before Taig Healy doubled the lead in the 67th minute.
The Wolfpack struck early when Justin Mclean found the back of the net in the 5th minute off an assist from Riley Moloney. NC State continued to press, with Isaac Heffess forcing two saves in quick succession around the 4th minute mark. Duke's Kenan Hot responded with a blocked shot in the 37th minute, but the Blue Devils struggled to generate consistent offensive pressure.
The first half was marked by physical play, with NC State's Calem Tommy receiving a yellow card in the 13th minute for unsporting behavior. The Wolfpack dominated the attacking chances, outshooting Duke 6-2 in the opening period. Thomas Lamaille picked up NC State's second yellow card in the 36th minute as tensions continued to rise.
The second half saw the match intensity escalate further. Taig Healy extended NC State's lead in the 67th minute, but the celebration was short-lived as Justin Mclean received his second yellow card in the 68th minute, reducing the Wolfpack to ten men. The situation worsened for NC State when Nikola Markovic was shown a straight red card in the 87th minute, forcing them to finish with nine players.
Despite playing two men down for the final minutes, NC State's defense held firm. The final statistics showed NC State outshooting Duke 14-9, with six shots on target compared to Duke's four. The Wolfpack also held a slight edge in corner kicks (3-2), though discipline proved costly with six yellow cards and two reds compared to Duke's two yellows.
Several players stood out individually. NC State's Calem Tommy registered multiple shot attempts before being cautioned, while Duke's Kenan Hot proved dangerous with several attempts on goal. Duke's defensive unit, led by Nikolai Bull Jorgensen, worked to contain the Wolfpack attack even after gaining the two-man advantage late in the match.
The tactical battle shifted dramatically after NC State's red cards. The Wolfpack dropped into a defensive shell, abandoning their early pressing approach that had proven so effective. Duke attempted to capitalize on their numerical advantage by pushing numbers forward, but struggled to break down NC State's compressed defensive formation.
This victory extends NC State's impressive season record to 11-1-3, while Duke drops to 7-2-6. The Wolfpack's ability to secure three points despite finishing with nine men demonstrates their defensive resilience, though the suspensions will impact their squad depth moving forward.
The match was ultimately decided by NC State's clinical finishing in the key moments, converting two of their six shots on target while maintaining a clean sheet despite the late disciplinary issues. Duke's inability to capitalize on their two-man advantage in the closing stages will likely be a point of focus in training.
Both teams now look ahead to crucial conference matchups. NC State hosts Syracuse on October 31st, while Duke travels to face North Carolina on the same date. The Wolfpack will need to adjust their lineup due to the suspensions, while Duke aims to bounce back from consecutive defeats.