— By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Lineker Rodrigues dos Santos continued his postseason scoring surge and goalkeeper Aleksa Janjic made big saves when called on to help Marshall edge North Carolina State, 2-1, in a Sweet 16 matchup in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday afternoon in front of 2,048 chilly fans at Hoops Family Field/Veterans Memorial Soccer Complex.
Rodrigues dos Santos had both goals in the first half to give the No. 13 seed Thundering Herd a 2-0 lead at intermission. The Wolfpack’s Vusumzi Plamana converted off a corner kick late to cut the deficit to 2-1. The visitors kept pressing, but the Herd in kept them off the scoreboard to earn an Elite 8 date next against SMU, which claimed a 3-1 victory over Dayton later Saturday.
“It was a very good performance in the first half,” Herd coach Chris Grassie said. “We were against a strong wind. It made it very difficult to play overtop. So they were able to squeeze us. I thought the guys did a really good job. Aleksa made a great save. We scored two great goals thanks to Linny. We probably could have scored a couple more.
“The wind died down in the second half. We played under pressure a little bit. They scored that goal off a set piece. I hate to give up that kind of goal. We’ll review that. Pretty strong performance by the guys the second half under the circumstances. Now it’s not about stats, it’s about what you did in both boxes. We put both our chances away and got to deny them.”
North Carolina State made a costly turnover in the ninth minute and the Herd made the Wolfpack pay. Rodrigues dos Santos came up with the turnover and sent a shot into the right corner at 8:56.
“We worked on pressing them when the game started and you see how we got our first goal,” Rodrigues dos Santos said. “I realized I was one-on-one. The defender closed in on me. Closed my eyes and shot it.”
The Herd strike first!#NCAASoccer x 🎥 ESPN+ / @HerdMSoccer pic.twitter.com/ICt8SGupZm
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 30, 2024
The two-goal effort gives Rodrigues dos Santos, transfer from Memphis, 14 for the season. The second for the Brazilian came when Taimiu Okiyoshi got off a shot in the box, Wolfpack keeper Logan Erb stopped it but didn’t control it, and the ball came to Rodrigues dos Santos who put it home at 36:22. He’s scored 13 of his goals in the last 15 matches.
Lineker Rodrigues dos santos is on a brace for the Herd!#NCAASoccer x 🎥 ESPN+ / @HerdMSoccer pic.twitter.com/KM9dlRT2sh
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 30, 2024
This was the third multi-goal game of the season for Rodrigues dos Santos. His 14 goals are tied four fourth most in a single season in program history. His 31 points have in a tie for fifth in a season in program history.
Prior to the goal, Janjic came up with two huge saves. The first came on a set piece off a corner when North Carolina State’s Isaac Heffess headed a shot in the box to the right corner, but Janjic dove to knock it away at 16:30. At 29:37, the Wolfpack’s Donavan Phillip made a nice run into the Herd box and got off a powerful shot that Janjic turned aside.
“That early save was excellent,” Grassie said. “That’s what he’s there for.”
“Amazing,” Rodrigues dos Santos said. “It’s nice to score goals, it’s nicer to know we’ve got the keeper back there, that he’s on our side.”
Janjic, who finished with seven saves, has 10 wins on the season.
Grassie knew the Wolfpack (10-5-5) would press even more after its first goal.
“We had choices to make,” Grassie said. “They were going to throw caution to the wind. Throw a lot of numbers forward and love to get open going long. We had to play composed. When we won the ball, sometimes we did well, sometimes poorly. It’s just at that state where they chase it and we have to respond.”
First-year Wolfpack coach Marc Hubbard gave it all they had for 90 minutes.
“They fought all the way to the end,” he said. “It’s unfortunate to lose a game that way. Marshall scored both their goals the way we hoped to score ours. They negated the chances and didn’t give the ball away. Don’t give the ball away and eliminate those chances, who knows? Still proud of the effort. Obviously you take more risks late and hope they don’t punish you. Credit to Marshall for taking advantage of those chances. We can still hold our heads high.”
North Carolina State had 14 new faces on the roster this season.
“A good first year,” Hubbard said. “Take advantage of the momentum we’ve created. We’ve got to replace what we’re losing, Proud of the group for what they did. It started in January. They worked hard in the spring. Kept getting better each day. Capitalize on the values we’ve created and keep going.”
Rodrigues dos Santos said he’s done nothing special to tally all the goals of late.
“It’s been great. Like Chris said, it was harder at the beginning of the season because I had just gotten here and getting to know the guy,” Rodrigues dos Santos said. “It’s good to know that even if I go down there is someone else to replace me who can do the same thing I do.”
“In the beginning, he’d played five games,” Grassie said. “Now’s he got 20. You get better reads. He’s tireless, guys run for 90 minutes and he works to be in the right position.”
This will be the Herd’s second Elite 8 in program history.
“Dayton would be a better fit for the fans,” Grassie said. “Dallas would be a better pitch, better weather. I’m just happy to be there. Either one. We’ll give it our best to getto the Trophy room at the end.”
That would be the College Cup scheduled in mid-December in Cary, N.C. The Herd won the 2020 NCAA title there even though that season was pushed the spring of 2021 due to Covid 19 restrictions.
North Carolina State was one of nine ACC teams to make the NCAA Tournament.