RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — Syracuse and NC State played to a 1-1 draw Friday night in a tightly contested matchup that saw the Wolfpack dominate possession but struggle to convert their chances. The match remained scoreless through 45 minutes before both teams found the back of the net in the second half. The result extended NC State's unbeaten streak while Syracuse picked up a valuable point on the road.
Drew Lovelace broke the deadlock for the home side in the 46th minute, giving NC State a 1-0 advantage early in the second half. The Wolfpack appeared poised to secure the victory, but Syracuse refused to fold. Sachiel Ming equalized for the Orange in the 79th minute, rescuing a point that felt increasingly unlikely as the match wore on. The draw left both teams with mixed feelings—NC State frustrated by dropped points at home, Syracuse pleased to escape with a result despite being outshot.
The first half unfolded as a chess match between two defensive-minded teams. NC State controlled the tempo and created several opportunities, with Taig Healy testing Syracuse's defense on multiple occasions. The Wolfpack generated seven corner kicks compared to Syracuse's two, a clear indicator of their territorial advantage. Yet Syracuse's backline, anchored by solid defending, kept the hosts at bay. The Orange offered little going forward but remained compact and organized, frustrating NC State's attacking rhythm.
NC State came out with renewed intensity after halftime, and Lovelace's breakthrough goal seemed to validate their aggressive approach. The Wolfpack continued to press, generating chances through Nakai Antoine and others as they hunted a second goal to put the match away. Syracuse goalkeeper made several important saves to keep his team within striking distance, denying what could have been a comfortable victory for the hosts.
Syracuse's equalizer came when Ming capitalized on a moment of vulnerability in NC State's defense. The goal injected new life into the Orange's performance and forced the Wolfpack to recalibrate their approach. From that point forward, both teams traded chances in an increasingly open contest, though neither could find a winner despite sustained pressure in the final minutes.
The statistics told the story of NC State's dominance. The Wolfpack attempted 18 shots compared to Syracuse's six, and held a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal. NC State also earned seven corner kicks to Syracuse's two. Yet the Orange's goalkeeper proved instrumental in keeping his team competitive, recording five saves. NC State's keeper made just one save, a reflection of Syracuse's limited attacking output.
Discipline became an issue for Syracuse, which accumulated four yellow cards to NC State's one. Tim Brdaric, Tim Noeding, Carlos Zambrano, and Kelvin Da Costa all received cautions for unsporting conduct. Riley Moloney was the only Wolfpack player carded. The yellow cards reflected the intensity and occasional frustration that built throughout the match.
NC State, now 11-1-4 overall, remains one of the nation's elite programs but will view this as two points dropped at home. The Wolfpack had won their previous outing against Duke and looked to build momentum. Syracuse, sitting at 7-6-3, showed resilience in a hostile environment after suffering a loss to Cornell last week. The Orange's recent victory over North Carolina suggested they could compete with quality opponents.
NC State hosts Clemson next, while Syracuse travels to face another ACC opponent. Both teams will use this result differently—the Wolfpack seeking to recapture their winning form, the Orange building confidence from a hard-earned road point.