Sixty-nine seconds.
That’s how long it took NC State to grab the lead from the Panthers on Friday night at Ambrose Urbanic Field.
Before fans settled into their seats fully, NC State’s junior forward Donavan Phillip found the back of the net at the 1:09 mark of the first half. Fans got their money’s worth, though, because Pitt showed no quit, trusted their preparation and ended the game in a 1-1 draw.
“We prepare to win every game. It’s the same standard week-in-week-out,” junior goalkeeper Jack Moxom said after the match.
Déjà Vu
For the second time this week, graduate student midfielder Arnau Vilamitjana scored by way of a powerful header to get the Panthers on the scoreboard. At the 11:47 mark of the first half, first-year defender Jacob Redenfors found Vilamitjana on a corner that resulted in the equalizer for Pitt.
Vilamitjana might have had flashbacks because the goal he scored on Friday was similar to the one he netted against Mercyhurst on Monday. The Pitt coaching staff has to like Vilamitjana’s attacking presence. He now has five goals in the 2025 campaign.
By the numbers
NC State applied pressure on the Pitt defense throughout the game and forced Moxom to make seven saves. And Moxom was quick to give credit to his back line.
“The guys in front of me do a really good job,” Moxom said.
There was also no shortage of stoppages during the game. There were five yellow cards and 24 fouls between the two teams. The game was certainly physical and rowdy. An extracurricular scuffle broke out after the final buzzer, causing an exciting start to the post-game activities — a product of high tensions and competitive spirit between two ACC foes.
What about the other side?
NC State came into tonight’s game wanting to build on a 7-0-1 start that has catapulted them to the top spot in all of men’s soccer. The Wolfpack will come away from tonight’s game wanting more, especially after a controversial push-off foul call that wiped away the go-ahead goal for them at the 72:57 mark of the second half. NC State gets back on the pitch on Tuesday, Sept. 30, when they will play UNC Wilmington.
What’s next for the Panthers
The Panthers will hit the road to face Duke on Friday, Oct. 3rd. Duke is another tough ACC team ranked at No. 16. The game is set to kick off at 7 p.m. at Wallace Wade Stadium. Pitt will look to build on this gritty defensive performance and find the back of the net more against the Blue Devils.