NC State Set for NCAA Second Round Match Against No. 19 Pepperdine

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PALO ALTO, Calif. – The NC State women's soccer team is set for the NCAA second and third rounds hosted by Stanford Friday and Sunday at Cagan Stadium. The Wolfpack will open with a match against No. 19 Pepperdine Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Both teams advanced to the second round after winning penalty shootouts. NC State earned a historic result at No. 8 Minnesota, while Pepperdine knocked off No. 24 California. The Wolfpack enters the match with a 10-8-2 record, while the Waves hold a 12-4-4 record. The match will serve as a rematch from the 2015 season and a provide another chance at history for the Wolfpack.

Series History:
Pepperdine leads the overall series 1-0-0. The Waves took down the Pack last season in a neutral site battle, winning 1-0 in overtime.

A Win Would Be:
The 11th win of the year – most since 1996
The first NCAA Championship win since 1995
The sixth win over a team ranked or receiving votes
A spot in the NCAA third round for the first time since 1995 and only the fourth time in program history
The first win over Pepperdine in program history

Scouting The Waves:
Pepperdine enters the match outscoring opponents 28-14. The Waves are on form with only one loss in their last 10 matches. Pepperdine advanced to the second round after winning a penalty shootout with No. 24 California in the first round.

The Waves have eight multi-goal scorers on the roster. Rylee Baisden leads the team with six goals and six assists for 18 points. Bri Visalli and Nicole Leggio are both threats in front of goal with 11 points each. Visalli has five goals and Leegio has scored four times this season.

A Big Weekend Ahead:
NC State has a chance to capture a third-round appearance in the NCAA Championship for just the fourth time in school history. The season is quickly turning into a program-defining year, as the team is playing in the NCAA Championship for the first time in 20 years and has set its second-best mark in school history in ACC wins and points.

Rematch:
In what could've been a season-altering win in 2015, the Wolfpack was denied a goal late in the match against the Waves, who went on to score a golden goal in overtime. The match was the first meeting ever between the two schools.

Homecoming:
For Hannah Keogh, Taylor Porter and Sydney Wootten, the trip to California will serve as the closest opportunity to a homecoming all season. The trio is from San Diego, Calif., and will have the support of their friends and families at the match.

Perfect PKs:
NC State went a perfect 4-4 in its penalty shootout against Minnesota. In addition to the Wolfpack shooters burring every penalty, Wootten came up big with two diving saves to help the Pack advance.

Offensive Firepower:
NC State is up to 32 goals this season - more than the last two seasons combined. The Pack has seven multi-goal scorers, while 13 players have at least a goal or assist. NC State is averaging 1.60 goals per game.

Balance on the Backline:
Goalkeeper Wootten and defenders Keogh, Ella Bonner, Cailyn Boch and Kristina Schuster have led a poised defensive unit all season. The group has dropped NC State's GAA to 1.06 and earned six shutouts, including two over top-10 opponents. The unit also went 463 minutes without allowing a goal - a streak that spanned six matches and produced four straight shutouts earlier this season.

Facing the Champions:
NC State has played one of the toughest schedules in the nation and faced a row of champions from the some of the top conferences in the nation. The Pack has already played SEC regular season champion South Carolina, ACC regular season champion Notre Dame, ACC Tournament Champion Florida State and Big 10 regular season and tournament champion Minnesota. The row of champions continues, as the Pack plays West Coast Conference champion Pepperdine.

A Historic Result:
NC State advanced into the second round of the NCAA Championship for the first time since 1995 with a penalty shootout win over No. 8 Minnesota. The Pack played Minnesota to an even score after 110 minutes before taking down the Golden Gophers on penalties. It marked the Pack's second result over a top-10 opponent this season and sixth win or tie against teams ranked or receiving votes.

Follow Along:
Fans can watch a live stream of the match through Stanford's Pac 12 Portal. Fans can also follow along with live stats, Twitter and Instagram.

NC State Set for NCAA Second Round Match Against No. 19 Pepperdine

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Players Mentioned

Cailyn Boch

Ella Bonner

Hannah Keogh

Taylor Porter

Krissi Schuster

Sydney Wootten