The NC State women’s soccer team will take on No. 5 Virginia Thursday in Raleigh in its ACC opener as the Pack looks to continue its hot start to the season.
The Wolfpack (6-1-0) will carry a three-game winning streak into the marquee matchup against one of the best teams in the nation. The Cavaliers will come to Raleigh with a 5-2-0 record after making their way through a rigorous schedule to open the season, including having played four ranked opponents thus far.
The Cavaliers own victories over West Virginia and Penn State, both of which are currently ranked in the top 10 in the nation. The team has also lost to No.1 UCLA and No. 9 Wisconsin by just one goal apiece.
While the Wolfpack has not faced a schedule as brutal as Virginia, the team is receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, a testament to its solid play to open the year. Head coach Tim Santoro’s squad has also only allowed one goal in the past three matches combined, outscoring opponents 9-1.
A major weapon and bright spot for State all season has been sophomore forward Tziarra King, who has recorded six goals on the season to go with four assists, both team highs. King has logged 16 points in total this year, tied for fifth-most in the NCAA. If the Pack is to pull off the upset, King’s athleticism and scoring ability will be a significant reason why.
Sophomore Kia Rankin has also been an essential part of the Wolfpack’s attack, earning 8 points on the season, including three goals and two assists.
Last season, State fell to Virginia in Charlottesville, 3-1, as the Cavaliers handled business at home. Like the Pack, the Cavaliers advanced to the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA Tournament. Virginia would then fall to Georgetown 2-0 in the Sweet 16 while the Pack was defeated by Santa Clara 3-0. The Hoyas would then go on to defeat Santa Clara in the Elite Eight to advance to the semifinals.
Virginia goalkeeper Laurel Ivory has kept the ball out of the goal against stellar competition. Through seven games, Ivory owns a 0.84 goals against average and has recorded 12 saves on the season.
Fortunately for the Wolfpack, it has been outshooting its opponents by a considerable margin this season. In total, the team owns a 96-34 shot advantage.
If the Wolfpack is to pull off the victory, it would be the team’s first conference win and first victory over a ranked opponent in 2017.
The match is set to start at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Dail Soccer Stadium, and can also be seen on the ACC Network.
