Saturday, September 30
Raleigh, N.C.
7 p.m.
NC State
vs
North Carolina
Wolfpack Hosts No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday
9/29/2023 11:22:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State women's soccer hosts No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday night for a rivalry matchup at Dail Soccer Stadium. Saturday's match is set for 7 p.m. and will stream live on ACC Network Extra.
Fans are encouraged to wear red for a Red Out at The Dail. The match will also mark Alumni Weekend and the start of Mental Health Awareness Week for NC State Athletics.
LAST TIME OUT
NC State earned points in both of its ACC road matches this past week, recording a 1-1 draw at Wake Forest on Sept. 21 before shutting out No. 16 Duke 0-0 on Sunday. Wolfpack goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas posted her first-career shutout in Sunday's draw, making four saves to keep the Blue Devils off the board. Her best save came on a diving stop in the 38th minute, swatting Elle Piper's long-distance strike behind the goal for a corner kick. The Pack's best scoring opportunity came in the 79th minute when Annika Wohner's close-range effort was saved by Duke goalkeeper Leah Freeman. Wohner timed her run perfectly, directing her right-footed attempt from an Emika Kawagishi cross toward Freeman's goal. NC State held the Blue Devils scoreless in the first half at home for the first time this season.
SERIES HISTORY
NC State and rival North Carolina will face off for the 54th time on Saturday night. A few notes tracking the Pack's ACC contest in Chapel Hill are listed below:
• In the Pack's most recent matchup against the Tar Heels in Raleigh, NC State upset No. 3 North Carolina 1-0 behind Jameese Joseph's eventual winner in the 26th minute and an eight-save shutout from Maria Echezarreta. NC State's victory on Oct. 16, 2021, marked the first time in program history NCSU defeated two top-five teams in the same season. NC State knocked off its other Tobacco Road rival (No. 4 Duke) 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 7, 2021.
• Two of NC State's three wins in the series have come under the tutelage of head coach Tim Santoro. Santoro's breakout 2016 squad shut out the Tar Heels 1-0 in Chapel Hill on Sept. 16, 2016.
• Five of the last seven matchups between the Wolfpack and Tar Heels have been decided by a single goal. NC State is 2-3 in those one-score matchups.
• North Carolina leads the all-time series 48-3-2.
DOWN GOES NO. 1
NC State has faced five No. 1 teams since 2002, holding a 1-3-1 record against top-ranked opponents. While four of those five matchups were played at home, NC State's lone neutral site matchup resulted in a 2-1 victory over No. 1 North Carolina on Oct. 10, 2002, in Cary. The Pack stunned the top-ranked Tar Heels and handed them their first ACC loss in almost two years (Oct. 27, 2000, against Wake Forest). The win also marked NC State's first outright victory over North Carolina in program history. A list of NC State's past five results against top-ranked teams are listed below.
• T, 0-0, No. 1 Virginia (Dail Soccer Stadium, Oct. 9, 2019)
• L, 1-7, No. 1 Virginia (Dail Soccer Stadium, Oct. 28, 2015)
• L, 0-5, No. 1 Virginia (Dail Soccer Stadium, Oct. 17, 2013)
• L, 0-2, No. 1 FSU (Dail Soccer Stadium, Sept. 30, 2012)
• W, 2-1, No. 1 UNC (SAS Soccer Park, Oct. 10, 2002)
SPIRIT OF '88
Thirty-five years ago, NC State won the 1988 ACC Women's Soccer Championship over North Carolina. After the match ended in a 1-1 draw, the Wolfpack clinched the ACC crown with a 4-3 victory in penalty kicks. NC State won 19 games in 1988, which remains tied with the 1995 season for the most wins in Wolfpack single-season history. The Tar Heels, however, avenged their ACC Championship game defeat in the national title game, defeating their rivals 4-1 in Chapel Hill.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
North Carolina enters Saturday's match without a loss, registering four victories over top-25 opponents so far this season. The Tar Heels received 10 of the league's 14 first-place votes in the 2023 Preseason ACC Coaches Poll. North Carolina was less than 10 seconds away from knocking off then-No. 3 ranked Florida State at Dorrance Field on Sunday, but FSU's Amelia Van Zanten tied the score at 3-3 with just seven seconds remaining in the match. Ally Sentnor leads UNC with 11 points and is tied with Avery Patterson for a team-high four goals. Starting goalkeeper Emmie Allen has posted five shutouts in goal and sports a 0.70 goals-against average entering Saturday night's match.
NEW RECORD AT THE DAIL
NC State women's soccer set a new attendance record on Sept. 7, welcoming 2,506 fans to Dail Soccer Stadium. The Dail, home to NC State women's and men's soccer since 2008, was packed out for Thursday's match against Michigan State on "Barbie Night", where the first 200 students received Barbie-themed T-shirts. The new record shattered the previous total (2,023 against UNC on Oct. 1, 2010) by over 450 people.
STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
NC State's sustained success has garnered national attention as the Wolfpack ranked No. 15 in SoccerWire's 2023 list of Top 50 Current NCAA Women's Soccer Programs. The rankings were based on a combination of final United Soccer Coaches Polls and Rating Percentage Index (RPI) from each season, with bonuses awarded for NCAA Tournament qualification and College Cup victories.
STEPPING UP BETWEEN THE POSTS
Junior goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas has stepped into the starting role following the season-ending injury to Maria Echezarreta. Pratapas, who spent her first two seasons at Louisville, has started every match for NC State since its road matchup at Denver. Pratapas logged her first-career shutout in Sunday's 0-0 draw at No. 16 Duke, making four saves to help the Wolfpack earn a point in its second straight ACC road match. She ranks second in the ACC with 5.00 saves per game, tying her career-high three times with eight saves.
UP NEXT
NC State travels to Blacksburg, Virginia, for a road match at Virginia Tech. Thursday's match against the Hokies also marks NC State's first of two nationally televised games next week as the Wolfpack will face both Virginia Tech and Virginia (Oct. 8) on ACC Network.
Fans are encouraged to wear red for a Red Out at The Dail. The match will also mark Alumni Weekend and the start of Mental Health Awareness Week for NC State Athletics.
LAST TIME OUT
NC State earned points in both of its ACC road matches this past week, recording a 1-1 draw at Wake Forest on Sept. 21 before shutting out No. 16 Duke 0-0 on Sunday. Wolfpack goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas posted her first-career shutout in Sunday's draw, making four saves to keep the Blue Devils off the board. Her best save came on a diving stop in the 38th minute, swatting Elle Piper's long-distance strike behind the goal for a corner kick. The Pack's best scoring opportunity came in the 79th minute when Annika Wohner's close-range effort was saved by Duke goalkeeper Leah Freeman. Wohner timed her run perfectly, directing her right-footed attempt from an Emika Kawagishi cross toward Freeman's goal. NC State held the Blue Devils scoreless in the first half at home for the first time this season.
SERIES HISTORY
NC State and rival North Carolina will face off for the 54th time on Saturday night. A few notes tracking the Pack's ACC contest in Chapel Hill are listed below:
• In the Pack's most recent matchup against the Tar Heels in Raleigh, NC State upset No. 3 North Carolina 1-0 behind Jameese Joseph's eventual winner in the 26th minute and an eight-save shutout from Maria Echezarreta. NC State's victory on Oct. 16, 2021, marked the first time in program history NCSU defeated two top-five teams in the same season. NC State knocked off its other Tobacco Road rival (No. 4 Duke) 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 7, 2021.
• Two of NC State's three wins in the series have come under the tutelage of head coach Tim Santoro. Santoro's breakout 2016 squad shut out the Tar Heels 1-0 in Chapel Hill on Sept. 16, 2016.
• Five of the last seven matchups between the Wolfpack and Tar Heels have been decided by a single goal. NC State is 2-3 in those one-score matchups.
• North Carolina leads the all-time series 48-3-2.
DOWN GOES NO. 1
NC State has faced five No. 1 teams since 2002, holding a 1-3-1 record against top-ranked opponents. While four of those five matchups were played at home, NC State's lone neutral site matchup resulted in a 2-1 victory over No. 1 North Carolina on Oct. 10, 2002, in Cary. The Pack stunned the top-ranked Tar Heels and handed them their first ACC loss in almost two years (Oct. 27, 2000, against Wake Forest). The win also marked NC State's first outright victory over North Carolina in program history. A list of NC State's past five results against top-ranked teams are listed below.
• T, 0-0, No. 1 Virginia (Dail Soccer Stadium, Oct. 9, 2019)
• L, 1-7, No. 1 Virginia (Dail Soccer Stadium, Oct. 28, 2015)
• L, 0-5, No. 1 Virginia (Dail Soccer Stadium, Oct. 17, 2013)
• L, 0-2, No. 1 FSU (Dail Soccer Stadium, Sept. 30, 2012)
• W, 2-1, No. 1 UNC (SAS Soccer Park, Oct. 10, 2002)
SPIRIT OF '88
Thirty-five years ago, NC State won the 1988 ACC Women's Soccer Championship over North Carolina. After the match ended in a 1-1 draw, the Wolfpack clinched the ACC crown with a 4-3 victory in penalty kicks. NC State won 19 games in 1988, which remains tied with the 1995 season for the most wins in Wolfpack single-season history. The Tar Heels, however, avenged their ACC Championship game defeat in the national title game, defeating their rivals 4-1 in Chapel Hill.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
North Carolina enters Saturday's match without a loss, registering four victories over top-25 opponents so far this season. The Tar Heels received 10 of the league's 14 first-place votes in the 2023 Preseason ACC Coaches Poll. North Carolina was less than 10 seconds away from knocking off then-No. 3 ranked Florida State at Dorrance Field on Sunday, but FSU's Amelia Van Zanten tied the score at 3-3 with just seven seconds remaining in the match. Ally Sentnor leads UNC with 11 points and is tied with Avery Patterson for a team-high four goals. Starting goalkeeper Emmie Allen has posted five shutouts in goal and sports a 0.70 goals-against average entering Saturday night's match.
NEW RECORD AT THE DAIL
NC State women's soccer set a new attendance record on Sept. 7, welcoming 2,506 fans to Dail Soccer Stadium. The Dail, home to NC State women's and men's soccer since 2008, was packed out for Thursday's match against Michigan State on "Barbie Night", where the first 200 students received Barbie-themed T-shirts. The new record shattered the previous total (2,023 against UNC on Oct. 1, 2010) by over 450 people.
STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
NC State's sustained success has garnered national attention as the Wolfpack ranked No. 15 in SoccerWire's 2023 list of Top 50 Current NCAA Women's Soccer Programs. The rankings were based on a combination of final United Soccer Coaches Polls and Rating Percentage Index (RPI) from each season, with bonuses awarded for NCAA Tournament qualification and College Cup victories.
STEPPING UP BETWEEN THE POSTS
Junior goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas has stepped into the starting role following the season-ending injury to Maria Echezarreta. Pratapas, who spent her first two seasons at Louisville, has started every match for NC State since its road matchup at Denver. Pratapas logged her first-career shutout in Sunday's 0-0 draw at No. 16 Duke, making four saves to help the Wolfpack earn a point in its second straight ACC road match. She ranks second in the ACC with 5.00 saves per game, tying her career-high three times with eight saves.
UP NEXT
NC State travels to Blacksburg, Virginia, for a road match at Virginia Tech. Thursday's match against the Hokies also marks NC State's first of two nationally televised games next week as the Wolfpack will face both Virginia Tech and Virginia (Oct. 8) on ACC Network.
Players Mentioned
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Goalkeeper
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