RALEIGH, N.C.- Marvin Mendy the first two goals of his career, but after heading into the halftime break tied at two, North Carolina State scored two goals in the first ten minutes of the second half to defeat the Gardner-Webb men's soccer team 4-3, in a non-conference match on Tuesday evening at Dail Soccer Stadium.
Mendy, making just the second start of his career was a force on the offensive end, totaling six shots and played a part in all three goals for the Runnin' Bulldogs. William Liles, making his second start of the season and the third of his career, performed well in net stopping a career-high six shots.
Offensively, the Wolfpack outshot GWU 20-11 and generated five corner kicks compared to just two for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Ryan Peterson paced the State attack with six shots and in goal, Alex McCauley made three saves en route to his sixth win of the season.
Ade Taiwo notched the first goal of the match for NC State scoring off a pass from Travis Wannemuehler for his second goal of the season in the 25th minute.
Down 1-0, Gardner-Webb would not be intimated and came right back and tie the game just three minutes later. Mendy drilled a shot into the top right hand corner of the net from just outside the 18-yard box for his first goal of the season.
The Wolfpack would once again take the lead in the 33rd minute on a goal by Yanni Hachem. Hachem received a cross from Wannemuchler and fired a shot towards the net, which drilled the crossbar but crossed over the goal line for the score.
Goals continued to scored at a fast and furious pace in the final 12 minutes of the half. Mendy drilled a shot off the post, but the rebound went to Ali Al-Gashamy, who shot the ball in the goal to tie the game at two, as the two sides would head to half all tied at two.
Peterson once again gave NC State the lead, scoring his first goal of the season in the 50th minute. After taking a 3-2 lead, Zach Knudson scored his third goal of the season to increase the Wolfpack lead to 4-2.
Gardner-Webb would cut the defecit to just one in the 61st minute when Ramberg crossed the ball to Mendy, who vollied it into the net for his second goal of the match.
Mendy had a final opportunity with just 13 seconds left in regulation, firing a shot towards the State goal, but McCauley made the big save to preserve the 4-3 victory for NC State.
Gardner-Webb opens up conference play in its next match, when it travels to Conway, S.C. to face the nationally ranked Coastal Carolina Chanticleers Friday night at 6:00 p.m.
