Virginia Tech had an early chance just 90 seconds into the game when Harrison Krieg forced Ethan Hackenberg into the net, but the Wolfpack keeper blocked the early chance with his feet. This moment was the Hokies’ most tangible chance of the first half.
Wenzel made a dramatic play in his own half in the 21st minute, stopping a close-range header six yards inside the box. The rebound fell to another North Carolina State player, but once again Tech’s senior goaltender stopped it at point-blank range.
Immediately after, Wentzel stopped a strong header from a corner kick with one hand. Floki Stevensen wiped out the remaining players off the line to keep the game scoreless and both teams went into the break with this scoreline.
The Hokies’ first shot on target of the second half came from an Andy Sullins free kick on the edge of the box in the 71st minute. The shot, hit firmly with his left foot, had pace, but Carvalho was able to convert it with ease.
A few minutes later, Tech almost got another break when Ian Marcano charged down the right side of the field for Noe Wimana. Once in the box, he fired a ball across the box that could have been a cross to Oliver Roche, who was breaking through the middle, but the State keeper scooped up the shot as well.
Like his first chance of the night, Hackenberg gave Virginia Tech its last chance of the night. The senior rose to his feet and headed the ball in from Alex Perez, but the shot went just over the bar.
The scoreless result marked the Hokies’ first 0-0 tie since Sept. 2, 2022, against Radford.
The tie ended a three-game conference skid for Tech, but it wasn’t North Carolina State’s second consecutive 0-0 finish, as it had similar luck last week at No. 2 Stanford. .
Virginia Tech returns home Tuesday at 7 p.m. to take on Winthrop, then heads to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to take on Wake Forest on Saturday, Oct. 19.
