Wolfpack after victory over Cal Maritime, photo by Kyle O’Donnell
This past weekend the Wolfpack traveled to Sanford Fla. to compete in the National Sweet Sixteen Tournament. As far as we are aware of this was a first for the NCSURFC. The Wolfpack were excited to be able to show everyone that we belonged at this event. Many of the Internet prognosticators were not giving the Pack any chance of competing well alone winning a match. This suited us just fine as nobody but ourselves believed in us all season. The Wolfpack’s first round opponent would be the #1 ranked D-2 team in the nation Cal Maritime. Although Cal Maritime was seeded #5 in the tourney because of the finish of last years tournament many thought that it was their year to win it all. The Wolfpack entered the tournament seeded #12 and ranked at #20. Seeding in the tournament are determined by the finish of each regions teams from the year before even though the teams change from year to year.
On Saturday April 17th the Pack awoke to find beautiful 80 deg. temps with a slight wind, perfect weather to take on a team from the Bay area of Cal. After a team breakfast next to the hotel pool the Pack traveled to Seminole Soccer Park to go through the check in process. After completing this we watched some of the on going matches until it was time to begin our warm up for the most important match many of our players will ever compete in.
The match began with the Pack receiving the kick off and very quickly scoring a try by #12 Will Teague who also converted to make the score 7-0 after only 3 mins. The Pack looked as though they might blow Cal Maritime off of the field as we were unfortunate not to score two more tries in the opening mins. Cal managed to avoid this by the Pack knocking on a sure try at 5 mins and a forward pass? at least in the Sirs eyes at 7 mins. Cal being the good side that they are scored their first try at the 9 min mark when their very athletic 8-man picked up from the base of the scrum and placed the ball under the posts for an easy conversion and the score was tied at 7-7. Cal Maritime seemed to find their game and scored again at 15 mins when their large,fast and skillful running wing touched down in the corner to make the score 7-12. The Pack much as they have all season quickly answered in the 18th min with a try by #8 Andrew Birch that was converted by #12 Will Teague to move the Pack back in front 14-12. The rest of the half was fairly evenly played with both sides missing convertable penalty kicks.
Cal Maritime opened the second half by using their forwards to try and control play and deny our dangerous backs from getting ball. This resulted in Cal Maritime touching down again at the 51 min. mark when their 8-man scored off of another scrum from 20 meters out. After the successful conversion the Keel Haulers were up 17-14. The Pack fought back and scored a try by #15 Greg Hesler that was converted by #12 Will Teague and at 60 mins. the Pack was back on top 21-17. The heat looked as if it was getting to the Northern Cal guys and the Pack scored another try by Greg Hesler and converted by Will Teague in the 67th min. to put the game out of reach. The Pack finished the game controlling play and were 28-17 victors over the #1 team in the nation.
Needless to say the Wolfpack were quite pleased with themselves. Not only had we come to Fla. and competed and proved to the know-it alls that we belonged here, we beat most peoples choice to win it all. The Pack was through to the Elite 8 round and would take on Miami of Ohio University who had beaten last years champion Middlebury of Vermont 27-23. As Miami had finished #3 in last years tourney we knew that we would have our hands full on Sunday.
01 M Addison
02 S Bahner
03 A Harman
04 A McLean E Youngs 58 mins.
05 M Daniels
06 C Pearce
07 P Burcal C
08 A Birch M Pace 40 mins.
09 C Maxwell
10 R Dow
11 B Maxwell
12 W Teague
13 B Mosiman
14 D Hunt
15 G Hesler
Man of the Match Greg Hesler & Will Teague
Sunday April 18th the Pack prepared to play Miami of Ohio for the chance to go to Palo Alto Cal. site of the Final Four. Much like Cal Maritime we did not know anything about them as a team. On the other side they did not know much about us either.
The match kick off at 2:00pm with temps much cooler than the day before about 65 degs. and a slight drizzle. The Pack received the opening kick off and after several phases turned the ball over. Miami then proceeded to show that they would be a very difficult team to deal with. They scored tries at 3,9,12, and 17 mins to open up a 26-0 lead. The Pack then seemed ready to play a little and spent the rest of the half camped in Miami’s half of the field but could not score. The half time score 26-0 to Miami.
The second half started much like the first with Miami scoring tries at 44,52 and 56 mins to open up a 43-0 lead. The Pack never quit playing hard and scored a feel good try by #7 Phillip Burcal at 77 mins. to close the scoring at 43-5 for Miami of Ohio. Although we did not play very well in this match Miami of Ohio was the better team in all phases of the game. We wish them well at the Final Four.
At this time I would like to say that it has been my distinct honor to coach the Wolfpack this season. These guys exceeded everyone’s expectations throughout the spring. They trained hard and they played hard. A coach can ask no more.
Also the players and myself would like to thank Dave Egan, Jim Latham, Lewis Lovell and Hamilton Earp for all of their assistance this season. We could not have accomplished the success that we enjoyed this season with out their contributions.
Hope to see many of you this week end at the Alumni Match that will take place rain or shine. If it rains Raleigh have graciously offered their field as a back up. We will keep you informed as to the venue.
01 M Addison
02 S Bahner
03 A Harman
04 A McLean E Youngs 52 mins.|
05 M Daniels
06 C Pearce
07 P Burcal C
08 A Birch M Pace 40 mins.
09 C Maxwell D McAllister 58 mins
10 R Dow
11 B Maxwell
12 W Teague
13 B Mosiman B Browers 56 mins
14 D Hunt
15 G Hesler
Man of the Match Greg Hesler
Robert McAlister
NCSURFC Coach
(NC State before App State game 3/28)
With a forfeit by Clemson, NC State wins the CRL cup. The game against Clemson had been re-scheduled two times, and the deadline for the game to be played was easter weekend. Early on in the week, NC State received communication from Clemson indicating their forfeit, giving NC State the automatic win, and the final 4 points to place them in the lead spot for the CRL points standings.
This game was the last game to be played in the league, and as it stood, USC had 23 points, and NC State had 20 points. All NC State needed was a win to secure the cup, the the forfeit by Clemson gave NC State the 4 points to propel them ahead of USC, 24 to 23 in the points standings. The forfeit was not the ideal way to win the league, NC State was willing and prepared to play the game, although Clemson was either unwilling or unable to secure a field and get a side to play. NC State would have loved for the game to be played out, as it would only have been fair to USC, since anything can happen on any given day in this tight league.
With a victory on Saturday in the south final four, and the forfeit by clemson to give NC State the CRL cup, The Wolfpack have fulfilled their two pre-season goals. The two goals set by the club in a pre-season meeting was to (1) win the CRL cup, and (2) make it to the D2 National Sweet Sixteen. Some people may have considered these very high goals, considering the Wolfpacks season last spring, but the Wolfpack have exceeded all expectations and then some. Both of these pre-season goals have been met, and there is still more left in this season.
Although the Wolfpack will not be a part of the CRL next year, it was still a great league to be a part of. The competition was intense, and it was proven in this league that there is not that much that separates a d1 from a d2 club. The Wolfpack will move into a league comprised of 9 of the ACC schools for the next spring season. It will be kicked off in the Fall of 2010, with a 7s tournament for the participating teams to be hosted in Greensboro, NC.
Congratulations to the Wolfpack for winning the CRL Cup!
Final Points Standings
1 NC State- 24 points
2 USC – 23 points
3 UNC- 20 points
4 App State- 17 points
5 Wake Forest- 10 points
6 Clemson- 6 points
7 ECU- 2 points
Article by: Phillip Burcal
(Dave Hunt scoring a try for the Wolfpack against GA Tech)
The Wolfpack, after defeating Ole Miss in the south quarterfinals playoff match, earned their spot to play in the South final four tournament in Murfreesboro, TN this past weekend, March 27th and 28th. NC State was due to play Georgia Tech on Saturday, and the winner of Kennesaw State and Appalachian State on Sunday for the South D2 Championship. Murfreesboro is a long way from Raleigh, it takes about10 to 11 hours to travel it, and the fact that one section of I-40 is still closed wouldnt help. NC State arrived in Murfreesboro real real early on Saturday morning.
It had recently rained fairly heavily, and the ground was soggy at the MTSU fields. This made footing a little big of an issue, but not too bad. It was also a very windy day on Saturday, and continued to be windy for the duration of the match. The match kicked off at 1pm, and the Wolfpack got off to a quick start. The Wolfpack quickly scored the first points, and never let up. GA Tech had their moments in the game, although failed to place the ball for a try the entire game. The only points that NC State allowed, were three for a penalty kick. The Wolfpack dominated in this game, and the final score was 32-3.
The outcome of this game had far-reaching implications. The winner of the games on Saturday would go through to the National Sweet Sixteen Tournament in Sanford, Florida. The Wolfpack, in their 45 years of existence, had never made it through to the National Sweet Sixteen. With their win over GA Tech on Saturday, NC State made the D2 National Sweet Sixteen for the first time in the clubs history, and also fulfilled a pre-season goal. This victory and achievement also shows the complete turn-around that the Wolfpack have made in one year; the previous spring season they only won a total of two games, and the win places the Wolfpackat 6-0-1. The Wolfpack will now travel down to Sanford, Florida for the D2 National Sweet Sixteen on April 17th and 18th. Their opponent will be Pacific TU #1, who has been determined to be Cal Maritime Academy.
Playing at the same time, AppalachianState defeated Kennesaw State, meaning this is who the Wolfpack would play on Sunday for the South Championships. The game was played in sloppy conditions on Sunday, since it rained heavily that morning. As usual, the game against App State is a slug-fest, since our teams know each other so well, and meet many times over the course of a given season. The Wolfpack were on the attack for most of the first half, and the ball didnt leave the Mountaineers side of the field until the last 10 minutes of the half, when App State started to successfully move the ball on NC State. The score at halftime was 0-0. The second half of the game was controlled by App State, who came out strong, and whose fitness prevailed over the Wolfpacks. App State scored in the 65th minute, and then put up 2 more unanswered scores. NC State was playing strong and holding their own until the better fitness of App State got the best of the Wolfpack, who allowed the scoring to start for App. The game ended 17-0 for an App State victory, who won the D2 South Championship.
It was a disappointing loss for the Wolfpack, who had beaten App State earlier on in the season. When the Wolfpack and App State met earlier this season, it was a very tight game, and the Wolfpack were lucky to come away with a victory. It is clear to see how having practice fields helped the Mountaineers out, and allowed them to prevail. Although NC State did not come away as the South Champs, they are still going to Sanford, Fl, for the National Sweet sixteen tournament, for the first time. Wish the Wolfpack luck as they hope to push through to the D2 National Final Four!
Starting side for both matches:
1. Mark Addison
2. Stephan Bahner
3. Abe Harman
4. Matt Daniels
5. Aaron Mclean
6. Matt Pace
7. Chris Pearce
8. Andrew Birch
9. Phillip Burcal (captain)
10. Bryan Maxwell/Will Teague
11. David Mcallister
12. Brandon Mosiman
13. David Hunt
14. Will Durway
15. Will Teague/ Bryan Maxwell
Subs
Eddie Youngs- Lock
Alex Compton- Wing
Match Summary by: Phillip Burcal