
#23 Wolfpack And #3 Tar Heels To Meet Friday In ACC Championship Semifinal
11/7/2019 10:33:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH – No. 23 NC State women's soccer (10-5-4) will continue ACC Championship action Friday when it faces No. 3 North Carolina (17-1-1) in the semifinal round. Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., and the match will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
The Wolfpack carries a four-game win streak into the weekend, while the Tar Heels are the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday will be the 51st all-time meeting between the Wolfpack and Tar Heels, as North Carolina owns a 46-2-2 advantage heading into the contest.
The last time the teams met was on Sept. 26 this year in regular season play in Chapel Hill, and the Heels topped the Pack, 1-0.
Prior to this year, the squads last met in the semifinals of the 2017 ACC Championship on Nov. 3 in Charleston, S.C., and the Tar Heels walked away with a 1-0 win thanks to a second half goal by Alessia Russo.
The last four meetings between NC State and North Carolina have been decided by one goal, dating back to 2014.
LAST TIME OUT
The team advanced to the ACC Championship semifinals on Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 overtime win over then-No. 14 Louisville at Lynn Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
It is the second time in three years that the Wolfpack has advanced to the semifinals of the championship, and the fourth consecutive year the squad has accumulated 10 or more wins in a single season.
A SPECIAL CLASS
This year's senior class has accumulated 47 career wins to date, which are the most since 1997 when that respective class finished with 49. The class has additionally accumulated 10 or more wins the past four seasons, marking the first time since the 1993-96 seasons the program has won 10 or more games in four consecutive seasons.
RANKED!
NC State jumped back into the United Soccer Coaches national poll this week, checking in at 23rd. The team has been ranked or received votes in 10 of the 12 polls this season.
The Pack additionally moved up to 21st in the latest rating percentage index (RPI), as its overall schedule has been rated the sixth-toughest in the nation. Friday marks the team's ninth match against a ranked opponent this year.
GUTTENBERGER, KING PICK UP WEEKLY AWARDS
Lulu Guttenberger and Tziarra King picked up weekly awards on Tuesday, as Guttenberger was tabbed ACC Defensive Player of the Week and King earned TopDrawerSoccer Player Of The Week honors. Both were essential in the Wolfpack's back-to-back wins at No. 14 Louisville last week.
King assisted Anna Toohey in what proved to be the game-winning goal in the first contest, and was responsible for the golden goal in the quarterfinal win.
Guttenberger played a vital role as a part of the back line in the team's regular season shutout win. In the quarterfinal, she curled in a corner kick that produced an own goal, and forced a turnover on a Louisville corner kick which led to King's golden goal in the 2-1 overtime victory.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA
The Tar Heels won the ACC regular season title after finishing with a 9-0-1 record and 28 points, and carry a six-game win streak into the weekend.
North Carolina ranks second among the conference with 49 goals and 143 points, led by Briana Pinto with 10 goals and 23 points. Nine other players have scored multiple goals this year.
In goal, Claudia Dickey and Marz Josephson have split time this season. The pair has combined for 14 shutouts and have allowed just seven goals scored for a .38 goals-against average.
UP NEXT
If NC State were to win Friday, it would face the winner of the Virginia vs. Florida State semifinal matchup in the championship final Sunday at 12 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park. The contest will be broadcast on ESPNU.
The Wolfpack carries a four-game win streak into the weekend, while the Tar Heels are the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.
SERIES HISTORY
Friday will be the 51st all-time meeting between the Wolfpack and Tar Heels, as North Carolina owns a 46-2-2 advantage heading into the contest.
The last time the teams met was on Sept. 26 this year in regular season play in Chapel Hill, and the Heels topped the Pack, 1-0.
Prior to this year, the squads last met in the semifinals of the 2017 ACC Championship on Nov. 3 in Charleston, S.C., and the Tar Heels walked away with a 1-0 win thanks to a second half goal by Alessia Russo.
The last four meetings between NC State and North Carolina have been decided by one goal, dating back to 2014.
LAST TIME OUT
The team advanced to the ACC Championship semifinals on Sunday afternoon with a 2-1 overtime win over then-No. 14 Louisville at Lynn Stadium in Louisville, Ky.
It is the second time in three years that the Wolfpack has advanced to the semifinals of the championship, and the fourth consecutive year the squad has accumulated 10 or more wins in a single season.
A SPECIAL CLASS
This year's senior class has accumulated 47 career wins to date, which are the most since 1997 when that respective class finished with 49. The class has additionally accumulated 10 or more wins the past four seasons, marking the first time since the 1993-96 seasons the program has won 10 or more games in four consecutive seasons.
RANKED!
NC State jumped back into the United Soccer Coaches national poll this week, checking in at 23rd. The team has been ranked or received votes in 10 of the 12 polls this season.
The Pack additionally moved up to 21st in the latest rating percentage index (RPI), as its overall schedule has been rated the sixth-toughest in the nation. Friday marks the team's ninth match against a ranked opponent this year.
GUTTENBERGER, KING PICK UP WEEKLY AWARDS
Lulu Guttenberger and Tziarra King picked up weekly awards on Tuesday, as Guttenberger was tabbed ACC Defensive Player of the Week and King earned TopDrawerSoccer Player Of The Week honors. Both were essential in the Wolfpack's back-to-back wins at No. 14 Louisville last week.
King assisted Anna Toohey in what proved to be the game-winning goal in the first contest, and was responsible for the golden goal in the quarterfinal win.
Guttenberger played a vital role as a part of the back line in the team's regular season shutout win. In the quarterfinal, she curled in a corner kick that produced an own goal, and forced a turnover on a Louisville corner kick which led to King's golden goal in the 2-1 overtime victory.
SCOUTING NORTH CAROLINA
The Tar Heels won the ACC regular season title after finishing with a 9-0-1 record and 28 points, and carry a six-game win streak into the weekend.
North Carolina ranks second among the conference with 49 goals and 143 points, led by Briana Pinto with 10 goals and 23 points. Nine other players have scored multiple goals this year.
In goal, Claudia Dickey and Marz Josephson have split time this season. The pair has combined for 14 shutouts and have allowed just seven goals scored for a .38 goals-against average.
UP NEXT
If NC State were to win Friday, it would face the winner of the Virginia vs. Florida State semifinal matchup in the championship final Sunday at 12 p.m. at WakeMed Soccer Park. The contest will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Players Mentioned
Meet Head Women's Soccer Coach Gary Higgins
Friday, December 20
EmpowHER - NC State Women's Soccer's Book Club
Wednesday, February 07
EmpowHER: Women's Soccer
Tuesday, February 06
2023 NC State Women's Soccer Season Recap
Monday, December 11