SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NC State capitalized on a second-half red card to defeat Notre Dame 3-0 on Thursday night at Alumni Stadium, extending their winning streak to two matches behind a dominant performance from Aidan Payne.
Payne scored twice for the Wolfpack, netting goals in the 67th and 76th minutes, both assisted by Taig Healy. Donavan Phillip added insurance in the 79th minute to seal the comprehensive victory. The match turned decisively in NC State's favor when Notre Dame's Stevie Dunphy received a straight red card for violent conduct just 27 seconds into the second half, forcing the Fighting Irish to play down a man for the final 45 minutes.
The first half proved to be a tightly contested affair as both teams tested each other's defensive organization. NC State controlled much of the possession and created the better chances, with Taig Healy, Justin Mclean, and Frankie DeFrancesco all registering shot attempts. The Wolfpack's pressure intensified after the 10th minute, with Healy firing a shot wide right in the 11th minute. Notre Dame's best opportunity came from Jack Flanagan, who sent a shot wide left in the opening minute, but the Fighting Irish struggled to generate sustained attacking threats. Drew Lovelace came closest to breaking the deadlock for NC State when his shot struck the crossbar in the 50th minute, keeping the match scoreless heading into halftime.
The complexion of the match changed dramatically in the opening seconds of the second half when Dunphy's violent conduct violation resulted in his ejection at 45:27. Playing with a numerical advantage, NC State intensified their attacking pressure and began to dominate possession in the final third. The breakthrough finally came in the 67th minute when Payne connected on a well-timed run to finish past the Notre Dame goalkeeper. The Wolfpack continued to press their advantage, with Nikola Markovic testing the opposing keeper with shots in the 54th and 63rd minutes. Payne doubled NC State's lead in the 76th minute, again combining with Healy to beat the Notre Dame defense. Phillip capped the scoring three minutes later with an unassisted strike, completing the decisive three-goal second-half surge.
The statistical dominance told the story of NC State's control throughout the match. The Wolfpack unleashed 28 total shots compared to Notre Dame's five, with 10 of those on target forcing Notre Dame goalkeeper into seven saves. NC State earned five corner kicks to Notre Dame's one, demonstrating their territorial advantage. The Wolfpack also showed better discipline despite their attacking aggression, receiving only one yellow card to Calem Tommy in the 85th minute for unsporting behavior. Notre Dame picked up two yellow cards in addition to Dunphy's red, with Wyatt Lewis cautioned for unsporting behavior in the 58th minute and a team card for dissent issued in the 57th minute.
Payne's two-goal performance led a balanced NC State attack that saw contributions from multiple players. Healy proved instrumental beyond his two assists, registering multiple shot attempts including several that were blocked by Notre Dame defenders. Phillip added his finishing touch late, while Tyler Caton and Riley Moloney each contributed shots in support. For Notre Dame, the goalkeeper stood out with seven saves to prevent an even more lopsided scoreline. Diego Ochoa and Ian Shaul attempted to generate offense in the first half, but the Fighting Irish managed just one shot on target for the entire match. Nate Zimmermann's late shot sailed high in the 82nd minute as Notre Dame searched desperately for a consolation goal.
Tactically, NC State executed their game plan to perfection after halftime. The Wolfpack utilized their numerical advantage to stretch Notre Dame's defense, creating wide attacking opportunities and overloading the final third. Multiple substitutions kept fresh legs in attack, with players like Donavan Phillip and Justin Mclean rotating effectively. Notre Dame attempted to maintain defensive shape with a more compact formation after the red card, but the sustained pressure eventually broke their resistance. The Fighting Irish made numerous substitutions in an effort to find fresh energy, but playing down a man for 45 minutes ultimately proved insurmountable against NC State's quality.
The victory improves NC State to 10-1-2 on the season, maintaining their impressive form in conference play with a 3-1-2 ACC record. The Wolfpack have now won consecutive matches after suffering their only loss to Virginia on October 5. Notre Dame falls to 7-3-4 overall, suffering their second loss in four matches after a promising start to the campaign. The defeat continues a difficult stretch for the Fighting Irish, who managed just a 1-1 draw at Virginia three days earlier.
The decisive factor proved to be Notre Dame's inability to maintain their defensive discipline and NC State's clinical finishing when presented with opportunities against 10 men. While the first half suggested a closely matched contest, Dunphy's early second-half dismissal shifted the momentum irreversibly. NC State's depth and quality in attack ultimately made the difference, with Payne's brace highlighting the Wolfpack's offensive capabilities when given space to operate.
NC State will look to extend their winning streak when they host UNC Greensboro on Monday, October 21 at 6:00 PM. Notre Dame faces a quick turnaround, traveling to face Northern Illinois on Tuesday, October 21 at 7:00 PM as they seek to bounce back from this disappointing home defeat.