GAME DAY INFORMATION
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DATE: Sept, 4, 2023
TIME: 7:00 PM |
LOCATION: Athletic Training Center
DeLand, Florida
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GAME DAY LINK
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LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
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THE LEAD
The Stetson University Men's Soccer team will finish off their homestand by hosting the NC State Wolfpack at the ATC on Sept. 4 at 7:00 PM. The Labor Day matchup comes after the Hatters defeated the University of St. Thomas in a dominant 7-0 victory.
INSIDE THE SERIES
This will be the first time in program history that the Hatters will play North Carolina State in men's soccer. While this is the team's first game against the Wolfpack, they are no strangers to the conference, holding a 2-2 record against ACC foes.
SCOUTING THE HATTERS (1-1-1, 0-0 ASUN)
The Stetson Hatters men's soccer season has unfolded with promise. After a dominating 7-0 win over St. Thomas, they now hold the fourth position in the ASUN standings with a record of 1-1-1. In this recent victory, the Hatters showcased their impressive depth, with eleven different players contributing points, and six players finding the back of the net.
The team's depth became evident as they utilized a deep bench, with an astonishing 27 different players taking the field, including two goalkeepers. Alvaro Gabancho, who had earned recognition as a first-team All-ASUN defender in the 2021 season, made a notable return.
Throughout the season, several players made their season debuts, while others scored their first career goals. Gabriel Toro, Luis Lara, Kelvin Zinck, Andres Mata, Xavi Csato and Afonso Conde all managed to find the back of the net in their recent victory, the latter netting his first career goal.
Csato, who had scored his first career goal in the previous week against UCF, currently leads the team with six points this season. Stetson's offensive prowess was in full force, recording a total of 19 shots, with 11 of them on target, and earning nine corner kicks.
Despite their offensive dominance, goalkeeper Nicolo Radaelli had a relatively quiet game after a stellar performance against UCF, making just one save. In the 65th minute, Michael Smith took over for Radaelli and faced no shots on goal. Radaelli has recorded 10 saves while allowing only four goals on 28 shots on the season, while combining with Smith to secure a shutout for the Hatters.
With 10 goals scored so far this season, Stetson currently leads the ASUN in offensive performance, showcasing their determination and skill on the field.
SCOUTING THE WOLFPACK (2-1-0, 0-0 ACC)
The NC State Wolfpack have had an eventful start to their soccer season, currently holding a 2-1 record. However, they faced a setback with a 3-1 loss to UCF on Friday.
In their first two games of the season, the Wolfpack displayed a strong offensive presence by racking up three goals in each match. They secured a 3-1 victory over Radford and a 3-0 win over USC Upstate, showcasing their ability to find the back of the net.
NC State currently holds the fourth position in the Atlantic Division of the ACC. Notably, they have maintained an undefeated record at home but faced a road loss during their trip to the Sunshine State. Their goal statistics stand at 7 goals scored and 4 goals conceded on 45 shots taken.
Midfielder Will Buete has been a key contributor, scoring both in the loss to UCF and in the win against USC Upstate.
The forward duo of Ervin Cruz and Luke Hille have also made significant contributions, both finding the back of the net against USC Upstate, with Hille making an impact off the bench. Additionally, forwards Scotty Taylor and Junior Nare have added to the team's goal tally, with Hille also netting a goal in the season opener.
In terms of assists, Jarvis Cleal, Cruz, Taylor, and Yuta Toya have all registered assists, with Toya leading the pack with two. Goalkeeper Lucas Hatsios has recorded just one save this season despite securing a shutout against the Highlanders.
George Kiefer was announced as the head coach for the NC State men's soccer program in November 2016. In his first season (2017) at the helm of the NC State program, Kiefer led the Wolfpack to an 8-6-4 mark, two wins over top-five opponents and the program's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2009. It marked the first of three-straight postseason appearances for NC State as the team returned to the NCAA Tournament field in 2018 and 2019. The last time the program put together such a streak was the 1985-87 seasons.
In 2018, the Pack advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994. In 2019, the team finished fifth in the ACC for its best league finish since 2005. NC State has upset four top-five opponents in Kiefer's tenure.
NEXT UP
The Hatters will head to the desert of Arizona as they take on the Grand Canyon Antelopes in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 8 at 4:00 PM EST. This will be the first of a three game road trip that ends with the Hatters' first conference game.
