No. 15 NC State vs. St. Louis. Two programs in the first men’s college bowl game in the 21st century. The game marks the fifth overall meeting between the Wolfpack and Billikens and the first since 2007.
Here’s how they got to Carey.
No. 15 NC State (15-2-4)
It was a historic season for NC State, winning its first Men’s College Bowl in 35 years and second in program history.
The Wolfpack, coming off a second-round loss of the season at Syracuse in the second round of the ACC tournament just days before the NCAA tournament, responded with authority. They swept Marshall and UNC Greensboro in the second and third rounds, winning 2-0 in the first round and advancing to the quarterfinals with a 3-2 victory over No. 7 seed Georgetown.
The game against the Hoyas quickly became high-scoring, with five goals in the first 37 minutes of play and three goals in three minutes. The tide slowed from there as neither team managed to score for the rest of the contest.
The win was NC State’s 15th of the season, its most in a season since 1990, when it last reached the national semifinals.
A win Friday would advance the Wolves to their first Men’s College Bowl Final.
Whenever you call Drew Lovelace, you know he’ll answer 📲
8′ | (15) NC STATE 2, Georgetown 0#CarryTheCulture pic.twitter.com/369I45wr8f
— NC State Men’s Soccer (@PackMensSoccer) December 6, 2025
St. Louis (13-2-8)
The Billikens orchestrated a compelling road trip to Cary, fighting their way to their 17th straight College Bowl appearance and first since 1997.
So why has their postseason journey been so impressive? None of their four wins have been by more than one goal.
St. Louis beat Kentucky 2-1 in the first round, upset No. 6 Indiana 1-0 and defeated No. 11 Bryant in penalty kicks. The game was tied 2-2 at halftime, but both teams went scoreless in extra time, so it went to a shootout. Goaltender Jeremy Abonnel made the game-winning save to send the Billikens into the quarterfinals.
They then came back from a two-goal deficit in the first half with a 3-2 win over No. 14 Akron to extend their unbeaten streak to 14 games with three shutouts.
A win over NC State in the semifinals would make St. Louis a finalist for the first time since 1974.
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