The NC State men's soccer jumped on No. 15 Notre Dame in the first half, but couldn't hold that league Sunday night at Dail Soccer Stadium.
The Fighting Irish would score three unanswered and the Wolfpack wasn't able to play catchup, falling 3-1 in ACC action.
It was the first home loss of the season for NC State (6-5), who came into the contest having won six straight at Dail Soccer Stadium. Notre Dame was the first ranked team to visit Raleigh this season.
The Wolfpack went up 1-0 in the 34th minute on a set piece. For the second straight game Will Buete got an assist on a corner kick, this time finding Luke Hille, the team's leading scorer.
That margin stood at the break, as the Pack was unable to get any more cushion before the break.
Notre Dame wasted little time tying the game, getting a goal from Matthew Roou barely five minutes into the second half.
The two teams traded jabs on the pinch for the next few minutes before the Irish got a break. NC State freshman Lawson Abass was called for a foul inside the box, setting up a penalty kick for Notre Dame.
Paddy Burns scored on the PK to give the Irish their first and final lead of the evening.
Notre Dame added a goal in the 83rd minute for the final margin of victory.
"We just lost focus on the little details," Hille said. "Defensively, we got broken down and they were able to capitalize."
Hille felt like the team was still in the game after the penalty kick, but the goal in the 83rd minute was too much to overcome.
"The third one really killed us," Hille said. "It's a 90 minute game, we know we can defend against these guys and just hold off on those little lapses."
NC State gets a rare and much needed break in the schedule. There is no midweek match coming up as the Pack prepares for another ACC opponent, Wake Forest, on Friday.
"I think less is better right now," head coach George Kiefer said. "We've been playing every three or four days it seems like. Really, just let their minds rest, let them relax a little bit so that come Friday we are a lot fresher."
Up next: NC State takes on Wake Forest on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 at Dail Soccer Stadium.
