Coming off a huge road win Sunday against the 7th-ranked Georgetown Hoyas, the NC State women’s soccer team will travel to West Long Branch, New Jersey to take on the Monmouth Hawks.
The Pack currently sits with a 1-1 record for the season with two strong wins against College of Charleston and Georgetown, the first of which being an exhibition, and a close loss on-the-road to the 15th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks.
This is only the third time in program history the Pack has gone head-to-head against the Hawks, and the Pack has won the last two meetings. The teams last battled August 20, 2018, with the Pack sneaking through with a 1-0 win. With the Hawks yet to win a game this season, they will be hungry for a win against the Pack.
The Hawks remain the three-time defending champions of the MAAC and will be looking to continue their success this season.
Monmouth is led by fifth-year forward Madie Gibson, the MAAC’s offensive player of the year, who has scored 27 goals for Monmouth in her career, which puts her at 11th highest in the program’s history.
In the net for the Hawks is senior goalkeeper Amanda Knaub, remaining a starter for her third consecutive year.
Looking to keep their winning streak alive after Georgetown, the Pack is led by senior midfielder Tziarra King, who scored 2 goals in the second half against Georgetown, leading the Pack to victory.
Junior goalkeeper Jessica Berlin will remain in the net for the Pack with two saves in their matchup Sunday against Georgetown.
With a tough schedule on the rise for the Pack, an on-the-road win is a must. Just within the next month, the Pack is preparing to face three of its biggest rivals; Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and Wake Forest, with Duke and UNC currently ranked above the Pack. By starting off the season with strong wins, the team will be able to move up in the NCAA rankings and prepare for its rivalries.
The Pack continues its four-game road trip, with Monmouth being its third stop. The game is set to kick off Friday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. at Hesse Field.
