NC State men’s soccer fights for tournament spot after losing top scorer
The Pack is 1-3-3 in the ACC and ranked 46th in the RPI, having lost Donavan Phillip and three other key players from its 2025 championship team.
By Yasmin Kovalenko ·
One year after reaching the national championship game, NC State men’s soccer is competing for a place in the NCAA tournament. The Pack has not won a conference game since beating Duke, sitting at 1-3-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The 2025 squad finished second in the nation and lost to Washington in overtime for the title. That success set high expectations for the 2026 season, with the team entering the year ranked No. 2 and favored to win the ACC. The roster changed substantially during the offseason, however.
Four key players left the program: striker Donavan Phillip, goalkeeper Logan Erb, midfielder Taig Healy, and defender Nikola Markovic. Markovic was the No. 1 pick in the MLS draft. Phillip’s departure created the largest gap in the lineup. He led the country with 19 goals in 2025, won ACC offensive player of the year, and earned first team All American honors. He now plays for the Colorado Rapids.
The team’s scoring has dropped since Phillip left. NC State averaged 2.22 goals per game in 2025. In 2026, the Pack averages 1.53 goals per game. Aidan Payne leads the current team with eight goals. Forward Russell Berko has five. The team has scored 23 total goals this season.
Head coach Marc Hubbard said the team creates chances but fails to finish them. “We’re tying games, and we’re losing games that we shouldn’t,” Hubbard said. “Created enough chances to win the game, again our finishing in the box let us down.”
The Pack has outshot opponents in several losses and draws. Against Coastal Carolina, NC State recorded 19 shots to four and drew the game. Against Queens, the Pack took 11 shots in the first half and went down the break trailing 1-0. Against Louisville, NC State outshot the Cardinals 15-6 but lost 2-1.
Hubbard added 14 new players to replace the departures. Most of the new class consists of international acquisitions. The coach has continued to adjust the starting lineup throughout the season. He has made the NCAA tournament in each of the last nine years.
The team faces a challenge in converting possession into wins. The RPI determines tournament selection. There are roughly 25 at-large bids available after conference champions receive automatic entries. NC State currently holds the No. 46 spot in the RPI rankings.
The Pack has two regular season games remaining. It plays at No. 13 UNC on Friday night. A win against the Tar Heels would boost the team’s ranking. The ACC tournament offers another opportunity to secure a postseason berth.
The season is not over. The NCAA tournament features 48 teams in a single-elimination format. NC State must win upcoming matches to improve its standing in the RPI.
Source: Technician
