Sunday, September 21
Raleigh, NC
1 PM
NC State
vs
Florida State
Wolfpack Welcomes No. 7 Florida State Sunday
9/20/2025 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State women's soccer (2-6-2, 1-1-0 ACC) returns to Dail Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 21, to host No. 7 Florida State (7-0-1, 3-0-0 ACC). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra with Andrew Sanders and Denise O'Sullivan on the call.
Sunday's match will serve as the program's Mental Health Match. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive cowbells.
Last Time Out
NC State women's soccer earned its first conference win of the 2025 season on Thursday night, defeating SMU 1-0 at Washburne Stadium. Jade Bordeleau provided the difference with a 50th-minute strike off passes from Mana Nakata and Mary Frances Symmes, giving first-year head coach Gary Higgins his first ACC victory at the helm of the Pack.
Neither side could break through in the opening 45 minutes as defense set the tone early. The Mustangs held a 6-1 shot advantage, but Olivia Pratapas came up with three saves to keep the match scoreless at the break. NC State's lone attempt of the half came from Nakata, while the Pack also generated pressure on its only corner kick.
NC State broke the deadlock just five minutes into the second half when Bordeleau buried a strike from the right side of the box off a pass from Nakata, with Symmes also credited with an assist. From there, the Pack locked down defensively, limiting SMU's looks in the attacking third. The Mustangs managed seven shots after the break, but Pratapas came up with two saves to secure the clean sheet and seal the 1-0 victory.
A Win Would …
Sunday marks the 26th all-time meeting between NC State and Florida State in a series that began in 1995. The Seminoles hold a 19-3-3 advantage. The teams last met in 2023, when FSU earned a 5-0 win.
Scouting the Seminoles
No. 7 Florida State enters Sunday unbeaten at 7-0-1, continuing its reputation as one of the nation's elite programs. The Seminoles are coming off a 1-0 top 25 win at No. 18 North Carolina on Sept. 17, extending their winning and shutout streaks to five matches.
Offensively, FSU has been explosive, averaging 3.38 goals per game with 27 total tallies, the third-most in the ACC. Wrianna Hudson leads the attack with seven goals, tied for second in the league. On the other end, Florida State's defense has been dominant, conceding just one goal all season, the fewest in the conference. Its 0.127 goals-against average is also the best in the ACC and ranks second nationally.
Head coach Brian Pensky is in his fourth season in Tallahassee, posting an impressive 61-5-9 record. His tenure includes guiding the Seminoles to an unbeaten 2023 campaign capped by a national championship, as well as the 2024 ACC title.
Bordeleau's Having a Ball
Bordeleau continues to pace the Pack's attack, scoring four goals this season, already matching her team-leading total from 2024. Most recently, she netted the game-winner at SMU, securing NC State's first ACC road victory since 2023.
The junior forward has fired 37 shots on the year, ranking fifth in the ACC, and will be key to the Pack's ability to stack wins in a loaded league.
Welcome Home, Coach Higgins
NC State McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan named Higgins the sixth head coach in program history in December 2024. Higgins arrived in Raleigh after three seasons at East Carolina, where he guided the Pirates to a historic 2024 campaign that included a 10-4-7 record, an American Athletic Conference title, and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
Prior to his time at ECU, Higgins coached at his alma mater, Lenoir Rhyne, leading the Bears to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. The former standout player brings more than a decade of coaching experience and a proven track record of building winning programs.
Higgins' first year with the Wolfpack features an entirely new coaching staff. Associate head coach Joanna Fennema, a former North Carolina standout, led Lenoir Rhyne to the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Assistants David Rodriguez (NC Courage Academy) and Juan Basabe (Lenoir Rhyne) also join the staff, each bringing valuable collegiate and club-level experience.
Up Next
NC State hits the road to face Virginia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 27 in Blacksburg. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. on ACCNX.
To stay up-to-date with NC State women's soccer, follow @packwsoccer on social media.
Sunday's match will serve as the program's Mental Health Match. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive cowbells.
Last Time Out
NC State women's soccer earned its first conference win of the 2025 season on Thursday night, defeating SMU 1-0 at Washburne Stadium. Jade Bordeleau provided the difference with a 50th-minute strike off passes from Mana Nakata and Mary Frances Symmes, giving first-year head coach Gary Higgins his first ACC victory at the helm of the Pack.
Neither side could break through in the opening 45 minutes as defense set the tone early. The Mustangs held a 6-1 shot advantage, but Olivia Pratapas came up with three saves to keep the match scoreless at the break. NC State's lone attempt of the half came from Nakata, while the Pack also generated pressure on its only corner kick.
NC State broke the deadlock just five minutes into the second half when Bordeleau buried a strike from the right side of the box off a pass from Nakata, with Symmes also credited with an assist. From there, the Pack locked down defensively, limiting SMU's looks in the attacking third. The Mustangs managed seven shots after the break, but Pratapas came up with two saves to secure the clean sheet and seal the 1-0 victory.
A Win Would …
- Mark Gary Higgins' second victory as head coach at NC State.
- Be the 404th win in program history.
- Be Higgins' 112th win in his coaching career.
- Mark the program's 4th all-time win over Florida State.
- Mark the first ACC win of the season for NC State.
- Be the first ranked win of the year for the Pack.
Sunday marks the 26th all-time meeting between NC State and Florida State in a series that began in 1995. The Seminoles hold a 19-3-3 advantage. The teams last met in 2023, when FSU earned a 5-0 win.
Scouting the Seminoles
No. 7 Florida State enters Sunday unbeaten at 7-0-1, continuing its reputation as one of the nation's elite programs. The Seminoles are coming off a 1-0 top 25 win at No. 18 North Carolina on Sept. 17, extending their winning and shutout streaks to five matches.
Offensively, FSU has been explosive, averaging 3.38 goals per game with 27 total tallies, the third-most in the ACC. Wrianna Hudson leads the attack with seven goals, tied for second in the league. On the other end, Florida State's defense has been dominant, conceding just one goal all season, the fewest in the conference. Its 0.127 goals-against average is also the best in the ACC and ranks second nationally.
Head coach Brian Pensky is in his fourth season in Tallahassee, posting an impressive 61-5-9 record. His tenure includes guiding the Seminoles to an unbeaten 2023 campaign capped by a national championship, as well as the 2024 ACC title.
Bordeleau's Having a Ball
Bordeleau continues to pace the Pack's attack, scoring four goals this season, already matching her team-leading total from 2024. Most recently, she netted the game-winner at SMU, securing NC State's first ACC road victory since 2023.
The junior forward has fired 37 shots on the year, ranking fifth in the ACC, and will be key to the Pack's ability to stack wins in a loaded league.
Welcome Home, Coach Higgins
NC State McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan named Higgins the sixth head coach in program history in December 2024. Higgins arrived in Raleigh after three seasons at East Carolina, where he guided the Pirates to a historic 2024 campaign that included a 10-4-7 record, an American Athletic Conference title, and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
Prior to his time at ECU, Higgins coached at his alma mater, Lenoir Rhyne, leading the Bears to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. The former standout player brings more than a decade of coaching experience and a proven track record of building winning programs.
Higgins' first year with the Wolfpack features an entirely new coaching staff. Associate head coach Joanna Fennema, a former North Carolina standout, led Lenoir Rhyne to the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Assistants David Rodriguez (NC Courage Academy) and Juan Basabe (Lenoir Rhyne) also join the staff, each bringing valuable collegiate and club-level experience.
Up Next
NC State hits the road to face Virginia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 27 in Blacksburg. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. on ACCNX.
To stay up-to-date with NC State women's soccer, follow @packwsoccer on social media.
Players Mentioned
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