North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Seeks Momentum Heading Into Tournament
10/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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Oct. 26, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State women's soccer has one regular season game remaining and it will be challenging. The Wolfpack travels to Charlottesville, Va., for a 5 p.m. match against the No. 4 team in the country, Virginia. On Wednesday, Oct. 27, NC State will look to cap off a tough Atlantic Coast Conference slate with a victory heading in the first round game of the ACC tournament and a second ACC win. The Wolfpack is 7-7-2 overall and 1-7-0 in the ACC. The Cavaliers own a 13-2-1 record and sit in second place in the ACC with a 5-2-1 record.
"Virginia has played consistently all season," said NC State head coach Laura Kerrigan. "They have a strong core of defenders and are ranked in the top 15 in the nation for goals allowed. It will be a challenging match, but I am confident we will be prepared."
Led by senior tri-captain Erin Griswold and her 21 points on the season, NC State hopes to gain some momentum heading into its first round match at Maryland on Sunday. Along with being a road match as the final game, NC State will have the challenge of facing the fourth ranked team in the nation and an offensive powerhouse as well. The Wolfpack will look to its leaders in tri-captains Griswold, senior Katherine Warman and sophomore Michelle Crocker. Griswold and Warman will look to get the offense going while Crocker anchors the defense. Griswold leads the team with her eight goals this season. With Griswold at forward and Warman at midfield, NC State's attack will be in good hands. Crocker and her three sophomore teammates in the back have played well all season and are looking to continue. Megan Buescher, Christina Mann and Nicole Mayo will join together to suppress the Cavs' offensive attack. In net for NC State will be sophomore Megan Connors. The keeper has wracked up 57 saves on the season and allowed 19 goals.
Suppressing the Cavaliers' attack will be difficult. Virginia has two players with nearly 30 points each. Senior Lindsay Gusick has a team-best 11 goals, while sophomore Shannon Foley has helped 13 goals with her assists. Foley leads the team with 27 points and Gusick is next in line with 26. The Virginia defense has held its opponents to just eight goals this season, including just two in the first half. The defense is ranked 12th, which leads the ACC with the lowest GAA of 0.49. Conversely, UVa is ranked 25th in the nation for its offense after tallying 42 goals this season. Sophomore Christina de Vries has net duties for the Cavs. The second year player has allowed just eight goals to touch her net, while making 34 saves. Head coach Steve Swanson is in his fifth year and has compiled a record of 66-26-10 during his time.
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