North Carolina State University Athletics

Photo by: Brayden Holt
Women's Soccer Hosts VCU to Conclude Opening Weekend
8/20/2022 1:24:00 PM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State women's soccer team welcomes VCU to Dail Soccer Stadium Sunday to close out its opening week. Kickoff for Sunday's matchup between the Wolfpack and Rams is set for 1 p.m.
Live stats will be available for the Wolfpack's second regular-season game. The match will also be broadcasted live on ACC Network Extra.
LAST TIME OUT
NC State scored four goals in the first half to trounce Rhode Island 4-0 in its regular-season opener. Newcomers Alexis Strickland and Taylor Chism each scored their first goals as members of the Wolfpack in the opening 45 minutes to put the match out of reach. Strickland's pair of goals helped her secure her first-career brace, while Chism's tally marked the first goal of her college career. Leyah Hall-Robinson tied Strickland with four points on Thursday, logging a goal and a career-high two assists in the victory. Goalkeeper Maria Echezarreta posted her first shutout of the season, helping the Wolfpack notch its first clean sheet of the season behind four saves.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's match against VCU will mark the eighth all-time meeting between the Wolfpack and the Rams. NC State is 6-1 against VCU, winning the past four matchups in the series. NC State last played VCU on Feb. 28, 2021, which ended in the Wolfpack recording a 2-1 win in Richmond, Virginia.
SCOUTING THE RAMS
VCU opened its 2022 season with a scoreless draw at James Madison. The Rams outshot JMU 7-2 in the opening 45 minutes as midfielder Anna Bagley led VCU with five shots and four shots on target. In 2021, VCU finished 13-4 with a 9-1 record in Atlantic 10 conference play. VCU's sole defeats to conference opponents came against Saint Joseph's in its regular-season finale and opening match of the A-10 Tournament.
A TOUGH SLATE
NC State faces a challenging schedule this fall with seven of its opponents featured in the United Soccer Coaches 2022 Preseason Top 25. Two other opponents, Wake Forest and Harvard, received votes in the poll. Three of the Wolfpack's seven ranked opponents in the poll fall inside the top 10. NC State will also face seven opponents featured in TopDrawerSoccer's 2022 Preseason Top 25, all seven of which rank No. 16 or higher.
JOSEPH EARNS PRESEASON ACC, NATIONAL HONORS
Jameese Joseph, a Second Team All-ACC honoree in 2021, was named to the 2022 Women's Soccer Preseason All-ACC Team in August. Joseph was one of just 12 players league wide to earn a spot on the preseason team. Joseph led NC State with nine goals and 20 points this past season, netting game-winning goals against both Duke and North Carolina. Joseph also was named to the 2022 Women's MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List on Thursday, which is the nation's highest individual honor recognizing the National Player of the Year.
UP NEXT
NC State will continue its four-game homestand to open the season when the Wolfpack hosts Campbell on Thursday night. Kickoff between the Wolfpack and Fighting Camels is set for 7 p.m. at Dail Soccer Stadium. The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
#GoPack | @PackWSoccer
Live stats will be available for the Wolfpack's second regular-season game. The match will also be broadcasted live on ACC Network Extra.
LAST TIME OUT
NC State scored four goals in the first half to trounce Rhode Island 4-0 in its regular-season opener. Newcomers Alexis Strickland and Taylor Chism each scored their first goals as members of the Wolfpack in the opening 45 minutes to put the match out of reach. Strickland's pair of goals helped her secure her first-career brace, while Chism's tally marked the first goal of her college career. Leyah Hall-Robinson tied Strickland with four points on Thursday, logging a goal and a career-high two assists in the victory. Goalkeeper Maria Echezarreta posted her first shutout of the season, helping the Wolfpack notch its first clean sheet of the season behind four saves.
SERIES HISTORY
Sunday's match against VCU will mark the eighth all-time meeting between the Wolfpack and the Rams. NC State is 6-1 against VCU, winning the past four matchups in the series. NC State last played VCU on Feb. 28, 2021, which ended in the Wolfpack recording a 2-1 win in Richmond, Virginia.
SCOUTING THE RAMS
VCU opened its 2022 season with a scoreless draw at James Madison. The Rams outshot JMU 7-2 in the opening 45 minutes as midfielder Anna Bagley led VCU with five shots and four shots on target. In 2021, VCU finished 13-4 with a 9-1 record in Atlantic 10 conference play. VCU's sole defeats to conference opponents came against Saint Joseph's in its regular-season finale and opening match of the A-10 Tournament.
A TOUGH SLATE
NC State faces a challenging schedule this fall with seven of its opponents featured in the United Soccer Coaches 2022 Preseason Top 25. Two other opponents, Wake Forest and Harvard, received votes in the poll. Three of the Wolfpack's seven ranked opponents in the poll fall inside the top 10. NC State will also face seven opponents featured in TopDrawerSoccer's 2022 Preseason Top 25, all seven of which rank No. 16 or higher.
JOSEPH EARNS PRESEASON ACC, NATIONAL HONORS
Jameese Joseph, a Second Team All-ACC honoree in 2021, was named to the 2022 Women's Soccer Preseason All-ACC Team in August. Joseph was one of just 12 players league wide to earn a spot on the preseason team. Joseph led NC State with nine goals and 20 points this past season, netting game-winning goals against both Duke and North Carolina. Joseph also was named to the 2022 Women's MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List on Thursday, which is the nation's highest individual honor recognizing the National Player of the Year.
UP NEXT
NC State will continue its four-game homestand to open the season when the Wolfpack hosts Campbell on Thursday night. Kickoff between the Wolfpack and Fighting Camels is set for 7 p.m. at Dail Soccer Stadium. The game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra.
#GoPack | @PackWSoccer
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