Women’s Soccer Moves to 3-0 with Win in Home Opener

Thursday, August 20

Raleigh, N.C.

5 PM

NC State

3-0-0, 0-0-0

Charlotte

2-1-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Charlotte	0	1	1
NC State	3	1	4

Women’s Soccer Moves to 3-0 with Win in Home Opener

8/20/2026 8:55:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State women's soccer scored three first-half goals before adding a late fourth to defeat Charlotte, 4-1, on Thursday evening at Dail Soccer Stadium and move to 3-0 for the first time since 2022. The Wolfpack has now scored at least three goals in each of its first three matches for the first time since 2013.

Freshman Katie Richter opened the scoring in the 11th minute with her first career goal, assisted by Emily Wong. Richter received the ball off Wong's head before finishing into the top of the net. Wong now has two assists through the first three matches of the season.

Yuna Aoki doubled the Wolfpack's lead six minutes later, heading home a corner kick. Daisy Duda sent the initial service into the box, where Carly Montgomery redirected it to Aoki for the finish. The assist marked Montgomery's first point in a Wolfpack uniform.

NC State added a third goal in the 31st minute when Fien Leijdekker found the back of the net from outside the box. Antonella Mazziotto and Mana Nakata combined to set up the play, with Mazziotto tipping the ball to Nakata, who found Leijdekker for the finish in the top right corner.

The Wolfpack took a 3-0 lead into halftime, marking the first time NC State had scored at least three goals in each of its first three matches since 2013.

Charlotte came out stronger after the break, scoring its lone goal in the 72nd minute. The 49ers also held a 12-9 advantage in shots during the second half after NC State outshot Charlotte 9-4 in the opening 45 minutes.

NC State added an insurance goal in the 88th minute when freshman Madison Casteen scored the first goal of her collegiate career to cap the Wolfpack's 4-1 victory. With the win, NC State improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2022.

Of Note:

Richter and Casteen each scored the first goals of their collegiate careers.
Aoki's goal was the second of her career and her first since the 2024 season.
Leijdekker's goal was the fourth of her career and her second of the season.
Montgomery recorded her first point as a member of the Wolfpack with her assist on Aoki's goal.
NC State outshot Charlotte 18-16 and has now outshot its opponent in each of its first three victories.
With 11 goals through three matches, NC State has surpassed its total from the entire 2025 nonconference season.
The victory marked Gary Higgins' eighth win as NC State's head coach and the 118th of his coaching career.
NC State earned its fifth all-time win over Charlotte.
The Wolfpack is 3-0 to start a season for the first time since 2022.
NC State has scored at least three goals in each of its first three matches for the first time since 2013.
The win marked NC State's first home-opening victory since the 2022 season.
NC State now has goals from nine different players to open the season, three more than it had during the entirety of the 2025 campaign.

Up Next
NC State continues its homestand Sunday, Aug. 23, with a 7:30 p.m. contest against Elon for the program's Mental Health Match. The game is part of another doubleheader with the men's team, which will play first at 5 p.m. Both matches will air on ACCNX.

For the latest on NC State women's soccer, follow @PackWSoccer on social media.