North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Travels to No. 1 North Carolina
10/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Oct. 9, 2003
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State women's soccer heads to neighboring North Carolina for its annual rival match set for Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. The Wolfpack owns a 7-4-1 overall record and a 0-2 slate in Atlantic Coast Conference matches. The Tar Heels, currently ranked No. 1 in the nation, enter the contest with a perfect 13-0 record and a 2-0 record in the ACC.
The meeting marks the 33rd time the two teams have taken the pitch against one and another. Last year NC State stunned UNC with a 2-1 win at SAS Stadium, which gave the Pack its first regulation win against the Heels.
Heading into the match, junior forward Erin Griswold has a team-high eight goals and 21 points. She ranks third in assists with five. The UC Santa Barbara transfer has totaled three multiple scoring games, including two goals against Delaware, High Point and most recently Navy. Freshman defender Megan Buescher leads the Wolfpack with eight assists. Senior forward Lindsey Underwood is second on the team in points with 19 (6 goals, 7 assists). In between the posts is freshman Megan Connors. The keeper has started the last eight games for the Pack. During that time she made 21 saves and allowed 13 goals with two shutouts. The defensive effort by NC State has been led by seniors Jaci Harper and Tara Knauss, along with freshmen Michelle Crocker and Megan Buescher. The foursome has held the opposition to 116 shots and 1.5 goals per game. NC State's offensive push has resulted in 186 shots and an average of two goals per contest.
NC State is coming off a split weekend after a 3-0 loss at Clemson on Friday, Oct. 3 and a 3-0 win at home against Navy on Monday, Oct. 6. Griswold scored two goals and sophomore forward Lydia McBath netted the third goal for the win over the Midshipmen.
For UNC, sophomore forward Lindsay Tarpley was recently named to the Soccer America team of the week after recording back-to-back hat tricks in the Tar Heels' 4-0 victories at No. 18 Duke and No. 22 Maryland. She currently leads the team in scoring with 12 goals in 13 games. North Carolina's goalkeeper, sophomore Aly Winget has allowed just three goals and earned 10 shutouts to lead the ACC in goals against average. Senior forward Alyssa Ramsey leads the team with 12 assists. The defense, still holding strong without the help of senior Catherine Reddick, who is currently with the US National team, has allowed just three goals and held opponents scoreless in 11 games. Together the Heels have tallied 46 goals, an average of 3.5 per game. The squad has been in three overtime games, which is the most in the ACC. It has also faced six ranked opponents, including No. 14 Nebraska (W, 6-0), No. 5 Texas A&M (W, 1-0, 2ot), No. 3 UCLA (W, 5-2), No. 18 Duke (W, 4-0) and No. 22 Maryland (W, 4-0). Head coach Anson Dorance enters his 25th year at the helm of the North Carolina squad. He has anchored the team every year of its existence and has accumulated a record of 545-25-15.
Following its match at UNC, NC State will return home for a 7 p.m. game versus No. 14 Duke on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at SAS Soccer Stadium.
