The women’s soccer team has been getting ready to face off once again at North Carolina at 7 p.m. today. According to coach Laura Kerrigan, anyone who is a student or coach at N.C. State knows the team from Chapel Hill is the school’s rival, and for that reason alone, the team loves to play against the Tar Heels.
“It’s because we want to beat them more than anyone else in the country,” Kerrigan said. “All the motivation in the world is there, and Oct. 25 is the day they are looking forward to the most out of anything.”
Over the years, Carolina has dominated in women’s soccer and has won 19 national championships, a measure of success Kerrigan said makes State want to beat the Heels even more.
“As a coach, you don’t have to sit there and pump your player up to play this game,” Kerrigan said. “They are basically, as soon as they get their schedules, are looking at Oct. 25 and saying this is the day we are going to play UNC.”
Right now technical work and moving the ball quickly, even in tight places, down the field is going to be the team’s focus as it tries to beat ACC-leading UNC, she said.
“[We’re] practicing on squashing all shots from 20 to 30 yards out,” junior Tami Krzeszewski said. “Their side of play is to press on our defensive third, so we need to relieve the pressure as fast as possible to be successful.”
The toughest challenge for freshman defensive player Alex Berger will be how big and physical the Tar Heels will be.
“I am pretty small,” Berger said. “But I can battle with pretty much anybody, so it won’t be too big of a factor.”
Berger is one of the few starters on the team who has yet to play against Carolina. She has watched the Heels before but is not sure what to expect from UNC. She said she is excited and prepared for what will come at her.
“It’s UNC against N.C. State. It’s going to be a big game. It’s a night game, under the lights,” Berger said. “I hope that I can bring my A-game and play well.”
Kerrigan knows that UNC-CH has players that can shoot well from a distance, so the team has prepared itself to make sure the Heels don’t get open shots from afar.
“You have to keep your skills sharp,” Kerrigan said.
The Pack has learned that any game can go to either team, according to Krzeszewski.
“What it comes down to is that we need to battle and play hard and play with our hearts,” she said. “It is whoever steps out on the field that day and chooses to play and play hard with their hearts. That’s who will come out and be the victor.”
