Friday, October 2
LOUISVILLE, KY
6:00 PM
University of Louisville
vs
NC State University
Photo by: David Sutherland | Louisville Athletics
No. 17 Cardinals Host NC State Friday Night
October 01, 2026 | Men's Soccer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville men's soccer returns to Dr. Mark & Cindy Lynn Stadium on Friday, Oct. 2, hosting NC State in an ACC matchup. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET on ACCNX.
The No. 17 Cardinals enter the contest at 7-1-2 overall and 1-1-1 in ACC play, while NC State is 3-3-3 overall and 1-2-1 in league action. Louisville is looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season, a 1-0 setback at No. 20 Pitt on Sept. 25.
Louisville opened the season with an eight-match unbeaten streak before falling at Pitt. The Cardinals have posted wins over IU Indy, Kentucky, Lipscomb, Wright State, Evansville, California and Belmont, while also earning draws against No. 14 Indiana and Boston College.
Louisville has scored 22 goals through 10 matches and has outshot its opponents 164-85, including a 70-31 advantage in shots on goal.
Junior midfielder Giacomo Zizza continues to pace the Louisville attack with five goals, four assists and 14 points. The Lehigh transfer has recorded a point in six of 10 matches and has scored three game-winning goals. He ranks among the ACC leaders in points, game-winning goals, shots on goal per game, shots per game and points per game.
Sophomore forward Andrés Escudero Martín has added six goals, which ranks second in the ACC. Escudero has scored in three consecutive matches this season and recorded his first career brace as a Cardinal in Louisville's 3-0 win over Belmont.
The Cardinals have received goals from nine different players this season, with Braydon Sellers contributing three goals and two assists and Emil Thor adding two goals and an assist. Cooper Olson has three assists, while Noah De Blasis has contributed one goal and two assists.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday marks the 15th meeting between Louisville and NC State, with the all-time series tied 6-6-2. NC State won the most recent meeting, defeating Louisville 3-0 in the first round of the 2025 ACC Tournament. The Wolfpack went on to advance to the NCAA Championship final last season.
Louisville head coach John Michael Hayden is 4-3-0 all-time against NC State. The Cardinals enter Friday ranked No. 17 in both the United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawerSoccer rankings, while NC State is receiving neither ranking and enters with an RPI of 53.
SCOUTING THE WOLFPACK
NC State enters Friday's match at 3-3-3 overall and 1-2-1 in ACC play. The Wolfpack have scored 12 goals through nine matches, averaging 1.33 goals per game, while recording 125 shots and 37 shots on goal.
Russell Berko leads NC State with four goals, while Aiden Payne has two goals and an assist. Ervin Cruz has contributed one goal and three assists, and Frank DeFrancesco has added one goal and two assists.
NC State is led by third-year head coach Marc Hubbard, who has compiled a 29-11-12 record with the Wolfpack.
UP NEXT
Following Friday's matchup, Louisville remains at home to host DePaul on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. The Cardinals then return to ACC action Oct. 10 at Syracuse.
The No. 17 Cardinals enter the contest at 7-1-2 overall and 1-1-1 in ACC play, while NC State is 3-3-3 overall and 1-2-1 in league action. Louisville is looking to bounce back from its first loss of the season, a 1-0 setback at No. 20 Pitt on Sept. 25.
Louisville opened the season with an eight-match unbeaten streak before falling at Pitt. The Cardinals have posted wins over IU Indy, Kentucky, Lipscomb, Wright State, Evansville, California and Belmont, while also earning draws against No. 14 Indiana and Boston College.
Louisville has scored 22 goals through 10 matches and has outshot its opponents 164-85, including a 70-31 advantage in shots on goal.
Junior midfielder Giacomo Zizza continues to pace the Louisville attack with five goals, four assists and 14 points. The Lehigh transfer has recorded a point in six of 10 matches and has scored three game-winning goals. He ranks among the ACC leaders in points, game-winning goals, shots on goal per game, shots per game and points per game.
Sophomore forward Andrés Escudero Martín has added six goals, which ranks second in the ACC. Escudero has scored in three consecutive matches this season and recorded his first career brace as a Cardinal in Louisville's 3-0 win over Belmont.
The Cardinals have received goals from nine different players this season, with Braydon Sellers contributing three goals and two assists and Emil Thor adding two goals and an assist. Cooper Olson has three assists, while Noah De Blasis has contributed one goal and two assists.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday marks the 15th meeting between Louisville and NC State, with the all-time series tied 6-6-2. NC State won the most recent meeting, defeating Louisville 3-0 in the first round of the 2025 ACC Tournament. The Wolfpack went on to advance to the NCAA Championship final last season.
Louisville head coach John Michael Hayden is 4-3-0 all-time against NC State. The Cardinals enter Friday ranked No. 17 in both the United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawerSoccer rankings, while NC State is receiving neither ranking and enters with an RPI of 53.
SCOUTING THE WOLFPACK
NC State enters Friday's match at 3-3-3 overall and 1-2-1 in ACC play. The Wolfpack have scored 12 goals through nine matches, averaging 1.33 goals per game, while recording 125 shots and 37 shots on goal.
Russell Berko leads NC State with four goals, while Aiden Payne has two goals and an assist. Ervin Cruz has contributed one goal and three assists, and Frank DeFrancesco has added one goal and two assists.
NC State is led by third-year head coach Marc Hubbard, who has compiled a 29-11-12 record with the Wolfpack.
UP NEXT
Following Friday's matchup, Louisville remains at home to host DePaul on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. The Cardinals then return to ACC action Oct. 10 at Syracuse.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's SoccerTuesday, September 22
Tuesday, September 22
Saturday, September 19
Monday, September 14
