After starting the season 2-0, N.C. State heads to Durham this weekend to participate in the Duke Adidas Classic and protect its winning streak. It will face St. Louis on Friday and Villanova on Sunday.
Two games in less than two days can take a toll on any player’s body, but senior midfielder, Ernesto Di Laudo said his team is prepared.
“Our bodies start to feel those minutes, for sure,” Di Laudo, an industrial engineering major, said. “We have to stay in shape and work hard, but I think we’re pretty focused on what we want to do this weekend. We were ranked last at the beginning, so we’re pretty confident about that.”
Di Laudo said the team’s tough preseason practice schedule has led to the early season success.
Senior defender, Hugh Cronin, a business management major, was recently named to the Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week, has been the Pack’s workhorse, playing every minute of every game.
Redshirt goalkeeper, Chris Widman, a junior in economics, tallied 10 saves while allowing only one goal so far this season.
“Chris is doing great; all the keepers are working so hard,” Di Laudo said. “Chris has been given a chance to play, and he’s making the most of it. He’s been giving us time and doing a great job as the last man on the field.”
According to the ACC’s official website, the Duke Adidas Soccer Classic is played with a set-pairings format, and the champion is decided by a points system. Two points are awarded for each victory and one point for each tie. Goal differential will be used in the case of a tie in the final rankings.
The team will face some stiff competition against St. Louis, which is ranked No. 12 in the latest NSCAA/adidas national rankings. According to St. Louis Athletics, State has never beaten the Billikens, and has posted an 0-2-1 record against St. Louis. However, the teams have not met since 1995.
Di Laudo, for one, said he’s looking forward to the challenge.
“We know they play hard, they’re a fast team — all the teams are,” he said. “We’ve been able to deal with that pressure on the field, so I think it’s positive for us to play against fast teams. We have our strengths, and I think if we can get it done Friday, it’ll show that we can play against anyone, no matter what their rank is.”
“Our fans still believe in us, we believe in ourselves, and we’re pretty focused. We’re motivated and we can get it done.”