In four years of playing soccer in the ACC, Hugh Cronin has played against some of the best athletes in the country — including one in his own family.

Cronin, a senior defender from Winston-Salem and co-captain of this year’s team, is one of N.C. State’s most experienced players. He has started a combined 35 games over the past two years — including two against his younger brother Sam, who plays for Wake Forest.

According to Sam Cronin, who is also a co-captain for his team, the “Cronin Bowl” is just another matchup.

“It’s just another ACC game,” Sam said. “It’s not about beating my brother. N.C. State is a big game on our schedule. I’m looking forward to it, and hopefully we can get a result like we did last season.”

With both brothers notching a win apiece, they will square off one last time Oct. 13 in the game that Hugh refers to as “the rubber match.”

While mother Laurie Cronin is “rooting for no injuries,” and father Barry Cronin is “rooting for [a] tie,” the oldest brothers of the Cronin family are clearly divided.

McNeil Cronin played soccer for four years at Furman University and now attends medical school at Wake Forest. Colin attends law school in South Carolina and is hoping for a Wolfpack victory, having run cross-country for State.

Growing up as the middle child in a family of five — the youngest and only girl is currently a junior in high school pursuing a black belt in Tae Kwon Do — Hugh said sibling rivalry contributed to the family’s athleticism.

“Having three brothers growing up, all we ever did was play sports,” Hugh said. “We just played anything we could get our hands into — be it soccer, baseball, basketball. We were always outside. Because there were so many of us, my parents just kicked us out and said ‘go play.'”

Hugh also credits his passion for soccer to his oldest brother McNeil.

“My oldest brother is probably the reason we all play soccer,” Hugh said. “He started at age 4. We all wanted to be like him, so we started. And we all fell in love with it. My dad coached us the whole way until we moved on to our own teams. I guess it just became a lifestyle for us.”

In Cronin’s final season with the Wolfpack, assistant coach Dan Popik is relying on him to embrace the leadership role.

“It is important for his last year that he really steps up and helps the younger guys learn the ropes,” Popik said. “He needs to help improve this team from the captain’s standpoint. On the field, he needs to be a leader by organizing the defense. In the end, he just needs to help this team get back to the NCAA tournament.”

His father, a former baseball and football star at Harvard, said, as a captain, the biggest asset Hugh can offer is leading by example.

“He’s a quiet leader,” Barry said. “He’s more quiet than the other three boys and always has been. He is a man of few words but just seems to let his actions speak for themselves.”

Colin said Hugh has all the intangibles to make an impact both in his final season and beyond.

“It is a big year for him in terms of maybe getting a look at playing in the MLS,” Colin said. “If he can play up to his potential, I think it’s something that might work out for him.”

Meanwhile, Hugh’s drive to succeed all boils down to sibling rivalry.

“I have a doctor and a lawyer in the family,” Hugh said. “I’ve got big shoes to fill.”