For the 2nd straight season, the NC State Men’s Soccer team has lost a player early to the professional ranks. Last year, Manny Perez left after his Sophomore season to sign with Celtic F.C. of the Scottish Premier League, who also allowed him to be loaned back to North Carolina FC of the USL.

This week David Loera signed a homegrown contract with Orlando City of the MLS after his Junior season.

“We are thrilled to sign David to a multi-year Homegrown contract,” said Orlando City EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi. “It is imperative for us to continue to grow the talent here in Central Florida and to work toward creating a pathway from our Development Academy to the First Team and David is an example of just that. He possesses great vision and control on the ball and we are very excited about his addition to our roster.” (MLS)

“I am very happy and proud of David,” NC State head coach George Kiefer said. “Immediately after our last match I thanked him for giving us everything and I told him that now it’s time we look after him and help him. I think the timing is perfect in that he was an excellent student and can finish his degree while he works on his professional career.”  (GoPack)

It’s probably a dream come true for Loera to be able to play professionally in Orlando. Loera played for Orlando City Academy prior to coming to Raleigh for college.

Loera earned All-ACC honors all three years at NC State, making the All-Freshman Team in 2017, the All-ACC First Team in 2018, and the All-ACC Second Team in 2019. After the season, TopDrawerSoccer ranks him as the #13 player in the nation, and the #1 player in the ACC.

Loera started all 19 matches of the 2019 season, tying for the team lead in goals (5) and tying for second on the team in assists (3). He led the Wolfpack in total shots (47) and shots on goal (18). Loera scored one match-winning goal this season in a 1-0 win over ETSU on Oct. 8. He helped lead the Wolfpack to a 9-7-3 record, a fifth-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season standings—best for the program since 2005—and played a significant role in the Wolfpack qualifying for its third consecutive NCAA Championship, something which was last done at NC State in 1985-87. Throughout his three-year career at NC State, Loera played in 57 matches (all starts). He scored nine goals and recorded 15 assists for a total of 33 points. (GoPack)

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The United Soccer Coaches released their All-American teams yesterday, and NC State Senior Tziarra King was named to the 3rd team, making her the first Wolfpack All-American in 24 years.

King is the 1st Wolfpack Women’s Soccer player to earn All-American honors since Thori Staples earned 2nd Team honors in 1995. She is only the 8th All-American in the history of NC State Women’s Soccer.

King wrapped up her career with 88 starts, 48 goals and 115 points, and ranks third all-time in the Wolfpack record books in all three categories. She remained among the top three in the ACC and top 35 in the NCAA this season in goals (13) and points (32) en route to becoming the second four-time All-ACC selection in the history of the program behind Staples Bryan (1992-95).

She, along with the rest of the senior class, helped the Pack earn its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament at-large bid and reach the Sweet Sixteen for the third time in four years. The squad additionally finished fifth in the regular season ACC standings and made its second ACC Championship semifinal appearance in the past three seasons.

The Sicklerville, N.J. native will graduate later this month with a 4.00 grade-point average and nutrition science degree. (GoPack)

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You never want to lose a game at home in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament, but that is what happened to the NC State Men’s Soccer team (9-7-3) on Thursday night, falling to Coastal Carolina (10-7-3) 3-2 in double overtime.

Junior Midfielder David Loera put the team on his back, scoring both Wolfpack goals. He got the scoring started with a goal in the 22nd minute off of an assist from Senior Tyler Gabarra.

THE CROSS ❗️
THE SAVE ❗️
THE SECOND CHANCE ‼️#NCAASoccer | @PackMensSoccer pic.twitter.com/GqarIbn7sb

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 22, 2019

Coastal Carolina tied the game on a direct kick from 22 yards out, and then took the lead in the 64th minute, which also involved a free kick.

Loera’s 5th goal of the season tied the game up in the 74th minute.

Unfortunately, the Wolfpack had a handful of kicks that were inches away from being goals, but the game ended up going to 2 overtime periods, with Coastal Carolina’s Tyrone Mondi scoring his 7th goal of the season in the 104th minute to seal the deal on the upset.

Senior Wolfpack goalkeeper Vincent Durand had a career high 5 saves, but it wasn’t enough.

Despite the devastating loss, head coach George Kiefer has the Wolfpack headed in the right direction, leading them to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since 1985-87, and a 5th place finish in the ACC this year, which is the best finish since 2005.

We ❤️ you, @NCSURedTerrors and Wolfpack Nation.

Thanks for being with us all season long. pic.twitter.com/Tr7gcDkUx6

— NC State Men's Soccer (@PackMensSoccer) November 22, 2019

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The NC State Women’s Soccer team pulled off an upset last night, defeating #3 seed Arkansas (#8 in the nation) 2-1, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the 3rd time in the last 4 years.

FINAL | 🐗->🥓

BACK IN THE SWEET SIXTEEN!!!

NCSU 2, ARK 1 pic.twitter.com/kkHUbWJMyN

— PackWSoccer⚽️ (@PackWSoccer) November 21, 2019

Good morning, #WPN. Here’s a friendly reminder that we’re STILL DANCING. pic.twitter.com/dBC4zY8ZzW

— PackWSoccer⚽️ (@PackWSoccer) November 22, 2019

You know it's a good day when @PackWSOCoach volunteers to break down the huddle.#gopackbaby pic.twitter.com/rL5d9ZSdSl

— PackWSoccer⚽️ (@PackWSoccer) November 22, 2019

Eighteen minutes into the game, Senior Kia Rankin scored the first goal of the game, her 2nd of the year.

KIA RANKIN! 💥

The one-touch puts NC State up 1-0 on Arkansas.#NCAASoccer | @packwsoccer pic.twitter.com/r49DFemuNu

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 21, 2019

30 minutes later, Redshirt Sophomore Lulu Guttenberger put the Pack up 2-0 on a corner kick assist from Senior Ricci Walkling.

FROM DISTANCE 🎯

NC State goes up 2-0 with a goal from Lulu Guttenberger!#NCAASoccer | @packwsoccer pic.twitter.com/ciejHgQP6w

— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 21, 2019

This marks the 6th time that the Wolfpack have advanced to the 3rd round of the NCAA Tournament. Since the Tournament has been expanded to 64 teams, NC State has never advance to the Elite 8.

Standing in the Wolfpack’s way is #2 seed and host BYU. The Cougars, who are ranked 4th nationally, beat #23 Louisville 4-0 last night.

The Wolfpack and the Cougars have never played one another. The two play tomorrow night at 8pm.

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