In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Donavan Phillip, the star forward from Saint Lucia, reignited his scoring prowess to propel the North Carolina State Wolfpack men’s soccer team into the NCAA Championship Sweet 16. The match, held on Sunday, November 23, at Dail Soccer Stadium in Raleigh, saw the Wolfpack secure a decisive 2-0 victory over Marshall. Phillip, who had been in a five-game scoring drought, opened the scoring with a header in the second minute, capitalizing on a corner-kick delivered by Riley Moloney. This goal marked Phillip’s 16th of the season, a feat not achieved by a Wolfpack player since 1991, and placed him among the top 10 goal-scorers in the school’s history. Only five players have scored more in a single season since 1961, with Sam Okpodu holding the record of 29 goals in 1982. Moloney, a defender recently named to the All-ACC Freshman team, added to the tally in the 59th minute with a deflected corner-kick that found the back of the net. The Wolfpack now prepare to host UNC Greensboro on November 30, following UNCG’s upset victory over No. 2 seed Virginia. The teams previously met in October, resulting in a 1-1 draw. With six of the 16 seeded teams already eliminated, the tournament promises more excitement as the Wolfpack aim to continue their championship journey.
