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Raleigh: NC State men's soccer beats Virginia Tech 2-1, advances to ACC quarters

Russell Berko and Aidan Payne scored in the second half at Blacksburg. Official box scores from NC State and the ACC list the same final. Next is Wake Forest on Sunday at 2 p.m.

UpdatedThis story has changed since it was first published.

By Alexandru Stanciu · Published · Updated

Downtown Raleigh buildings under a blue sky

File photo: James Willamor (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • NC State beat Virginia Tech 2-1 on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, at Thompson Field in Blacksburg, Va., in the first round of the ACC Tournament. The NC State Athletics recap, NC State box score, ACC box score and Virginia Tech Athletics recap all list that final.Confirmed by NC State Athletics recap and box score; ACC box score; Virginia Tech Athletics recap
  • The official sheets list NC State as the 11-seed at 6-5-6 overall and 1-3-4 in the ACC entering the match, and Virginia Tech as the 6-seed at 8-6-3 and 4-2-2. Attendance was 321.Confirmed by NC State Athletics box score; ACC box score; NC State Athletics recap
  • Luke Hamel scored for Virginia Tech at 25:05. Russell Berko equalized for NC State at 50:42, assisted by Tyler Caton. Aidan Payne scored the winner at 66:47, assisted by Berko.Confirmed by NC State Athletics box score and recap; ACC box score
  • The NC State recap wrote that Berko's goal was his sixth of the season and Payne's was his 10th. The sheets list NC State with 15 shots and five on goal, and Virginia Tech with six shots and two on goal.Confirmed by NC State Athletics recap and box score; ACC box score
  • The NC State recap wrote that the Wolfpack advances to the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2018-19, and that the win was NC State's first road win since Dec. 6, 2025.Confirmed by NC State Athletics recap, Nov. 4, 2026
  • NC State next plays 3-seed Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. Kickoff is TBA, according to the Nov. 4 NC State Athletics recap.Confirmed by NC State Athletics recap, Nov. 4, 2026
  • The NC State men's soccer schedule lists the ACC Tournament quarterfinal at Wake Forest for Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at 2 p.m. in Winston-Salem.Confirmed by NC State Athletics men's soccer schedule, 2026 season page

What happened

In Raleigh's ACC men's soccer bracket, 11-seed NC State beat 6-seed Virginia Tech 2-1 on Wednesday night at Thompson Field in Blacksburg.

The Pack recap and box score, the ACC box and Virginia Tech's recap all list that final. Attendance was 321.

Virginia Tech's Luke Hamel scored at 25:05. Russell Berko tied it at 50:42 off an assist from Tyler Caton. Aidan Payne scored the winner at 66:47, assisted by Berko. NC State outshot the Hokies 15-6.

The Wolfpack recap wrote that the team advances to the ACC Tournament quarterfinals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2018-19. Next is 3-seed Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. The athletics schedule lists kickoff for Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m.

Triangle Local is not the NC State athletic department.

Related coverage

Photos

Text-only. No athletics photos are used here.

Why it matters

Wednesday kept Raleigh's ACC men's soccer team alive in the conference tournament. Readers need the official score, who scored, and the next opponent.

Updates

  1. Nov 5, 2026, 2:20 PM

    Added the Wake Forest quarterfinal kickoff from the NC State Athletics men's soccer schedule, which lists Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. in Winston-Salem.

  2. Nov 5, 2026, 10:16 AM

    First file from the NC State Athletics recap and box score, the ACC box score and Virginia Tech's matching recap for Wednesday's 2-1 ACC Tournament win at Virginia Tech.

Sources

  1. Wolfpack Battles Back to Defeat Virginia Tech and Advance to ACC Quarterfinals (NC State Athletics recap, Nov. 4, 2026: 2-1 at Thompson Field; 11-seed NC State 6-5-6, 1-3-4 ACC; 6-seed Virginia Tech 8-6-3, 4-2-2; Berko 50:42 from Caton; Payne 66:47 from Berko; next vs 3-seed Wake Forest, TBA at recap time)

    Official sourcePublished by NC State Athletics · Checked Nov 5, 2026, 10:14 AM

  2. 2026 Men's Soccer Schedule (NC State Athletics: ACC Tournament quarterfinal at #15/(3) Wake Forest, Sunday Nov. 8, 2 PM, Winston-Salem, NC)

    Official sourcePublished by NC State Athletics · Checked Nov 5, 2026, 2:18 PM

  3. Men's Soccer vs Virginia Tech on 11/04/2026, box score (NC State 2, Virginia Tech 1; Thompson Field; attendance 321; Hamel 25:05; Berko 50:42, assist Caton; Payne 66:47, assist Berko; shots 15-6)

    Official sourcePublished by NC State Athletics · Checked Nov 5, 2026, 10:14 AM

  4. Official Soccer Box Score — Final, Match 17 VT ACC R1 Game Book (NC State 2, Virginia Tech 1; Nov. 4, 2026; attendance 321; scoring Hamel 25:05; Berko 50:42 from Caton; Payne 66:47 from Berko)

    Official sourcePublished by NC State Athletics · Checked Nov 5, 2026, 10:14 AM

  5. Virginia Tech falls 2-1 to NC State in ACC Tournament First Round (Virginia Tech Athletics recap, Nov. 4, 2026: 2-1 at Thompson Field; Hamel scored; NC State scored twice in the second half)

    Official sourcePublished by Virginia Tech Athletics · Checked Nov 5, 2026, 10:14 AM

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