RALEIGH, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University men's soccer team fell on the road against the Wolfpack of North Carolina State University on Wednesday evening by a final score of 3-1. The 'Dawgs struck first in the match before NC State was able to take the lead.
"I am never going to be satisfied about losing a game of football.", said coach Wells. "That's just the standard I set myself and the team completely agrees. Those are the expectations they have as well, but we have to take the positives tonight. I think outside of the 18-yard boxes we were the better team tonight. We competed. Won first and second balls. We out possessed them at times very, very well, and we need to get better inside the boxes. We need to convert and execute better. We need to be delivering the ball into the box a little bit more. Then we need to defend better in the first phases of our set piece and the second phases. But we have to take the positives out of that game, because I feel like it's been a rough two weeks and the guys responded and competed and represented the university very well. It's really a nice feeling moving into conference play again on Saturday against Presbyterian."
Sophomore midfielder
Caio Hughes struck first in the match for Gardner-Webb sailing a shot over the head of NC State goalkeeper Lucas Hatsios in the 4
th minute. It was his second goal of the season and his second straight match finding the back of the net.
Santiago Hoyos picked up an assist on the goal. NC State scored a tying goal on the 9
th minute off a shot from Hakim Karamo Hughes scores his second of the season in loss to NC Stateko. Lawson Abass scored in the 14
th minute for the Wolfpack to take the lead. They added one more goal in the 40
th minute from Scotty Taylor. The second half remained scoreless as NC State held on for the win.
"We battled hard in the recruiting process for Caio.", coach Wells added. "He's a player that adds a little something special in the final third. He can create and think on his own. He's very, very good is his deliveries both in his set pieces and run of play, and he's a great kid. He's someone that really wants to continue to keep working on his craft and we are really happy he's here. He's definitely the right personality, the right character, and he's got a really bright future as a footballer too. We are really happy with him."
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to Big South play in their next match on Saturday, Sept. 30 when they travel to Clinton, S.C. to play Presbyterian College. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
