2024 Season Rewind: NCAA Tournament Opener vs. Charlotte An impressive regular season resume earned the Pack a bid to host the first round of the NCAA Tournament at home.

Despite closing out the first half scoreless on both sides, NC State thought it sealed the deal in the 86th minute when Liam Bennett and Taig Healy connected with Donavan Phillip to find the back of the net. However, Charlotte responded with a goal of their own just moments later in the 89th minute and the teams were forced to move into overtime. 

During the second period of overtime, in the 103rd minute, centerback Isaac Heffess serviced a throw-in that would connect with Phillip’s head to flick on to Niko Markovic who would head the ball into the back of the net, ending overtime and securing his team’s victory. Markovic’s first-ever collegiate goal secured the team’s first advancement to the second round of NCAAs since 2018.