Wolfpack Battles Back to Defeat Virginia Tech and Advance to ACC Quarterfinals

Wednesday, November 4

Blacksburg, VA

6 PM

NC State

6-5-6, 1-3-4

Virginia Tech

8-6-3, 4-2-2

Team	1	2	Final F
NC State	0	2	2
Virginia Tech	1	0	1

Match Notes Box Score (PDF)

11/4/2026 9:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Match 17 | VT:ACC R1 Game Book

BLACKSBURG, VA. - 11-seed NC State men's soccer (6-5-6, 1-3-4 ACC) defeated 6-seed Virginia Tech (8-6-3, 4-2-2 ACC), 2-1, Wednesday night in the first round of the ACC Tournament in Blacksburg, Va.

Neither team recorded a shot until the 18th minute, when Josh Gordon recorded the first attempt of the match.

Virginia Tech opened the scoring in the 26th minute, converting a free kick to take a 1-0 lead. The Wolfpack was unable to find an equalizer before halftime.

NC State responded in the 51st minute as Russell Berko found the back of the net off an assist from Tyler Caton to even the score at 1-1. The Goal marked Berko's sixth of the season.

The Wolfpack took its first lead of the night in the 67th minute when Aidan Payne scored his 10th goal of the season, giving NC State a 2-1 advantage.

NC State kept the lead for the rest of the match.

With the win, NC State advances to the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2018-19.

The victory also marked the Wolfpack's first road win since Dec. 6, 2025.

UP NEXT
NC State will take on 3-seed Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C. Kickoff is TBA.

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