August 24, 2018
 
RALEIGH – The 23rd-ranked NC State men's soccer team began its season with a victory for the second straight year on Friday evening, defeating visiting USC Upstate 3-1 at Dail Soccer Stadium.
 
Ivy Brisma scored his first career goal in the seventh minute to give the Wolfpack an early 1-0 advantage. Tyler Gabarra doubled the lead in the 32nd and after a USC Upstate goal early in the second half, Brad Sweeney put the match away in the 74th minute with a wicked free kick.
 
Postgame Notes
-NC State is 2-0-0 in season openers under head coach George Kiefer.
-The Wolfpack now leads the series with USC Upstate 2-0-1.
-Friday's match marked the first collegiate starts for Ivy Brisma and Pepe Garcia. Classmates Aidan Foster and Caleb Martinezcame on as substitutes, also making their first career appearances for NC State.
-An impressive crowd of 1,938 fans attended the Wolfpack's season-opening win