NC State vs. Washington soccer: Time, TV channel, preview for the Men’s College Cup final
NC State (16-2-4)
NC State earned a 2-1 win over Saint Louis on Saturday, weathering a late Billiken rally to seal the victory. After controlling the midfield for much of the match, the Wolfpack narrowly survived a tense final 10 minutes following Saint Louis’ successful penalty conversion.
The Wolfpack’s attack broke through in the 69th minute when Donavan Phillip finished a sharp sequence that started with Isaac Heffess and Calem Tommy, ending with a precisely placed header. Taig Healy added another goal just a few minutes later at 72:04, heading home a cross from Riley Moloney to push NC State ahead 2-0.
Saint Louis responded in the 80th minute when a foul in the box on NC State’s Justin McLean earned a penalty. Quinten Blair converted to cut the margin to one.
Defensively, both goalkeepers were kept busy. NC State’s Logan Erb made two crucial saves, including denying Jack DiMaria in the 85th minute to preserve the lead. Saint Louis’ Jeremi Abonnel finished with four saves, including key stops on Ibrahim Conde and Frankie DeFrancesco in quick succession to keep the Billikens within reach early in the second half.
Washington (15-6-2)
Behind a standout multi-point performance from Charlie Kosakoff, Washington defeated Furman 3-1 in the semifinals to advance to the national championship. The Huskies dictated the pace from the opening whistle, outshooting Furman and repeatedly testing the target.
Washington struck first late in the first half. Zach Ramsey finished a well-placed through ball from Alex Hall in the 32nd minute. Kosakoff, once again a constant threat, doubled the advantage in the 40th minute with an unassisted strike to give Washington a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Although Furman pushed more aggressively after the break, Washington preserved the cushion and closed out the win in the 86th minute when Asher Hestad, coming on as a late substitute, buried a finish off a precise Kosakoff setup. Furman briefly spoiled the shutout just over a minute later as Luke Hutzell scored from a double assist by Braden Dunham and Connor Dunnigan, but the rally fell short.
Furman goalkeeper Ivan Horvat delivered a valiant effort in defeat, making eight saves to keep the score respectable, including a sequence of four stops in the second half against a relentless Washington attack. Washington’s Jadon Bowton earned the win, making a pivotal save late in the first half on a Wilfer Bustamante shot that could have swung momentum.
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