The women’s soccer team (8-7-2, 3-6 ACC) will have its last nonconference game of the regular season when it plays High Point University (4-12, 3-4 Big South) at Method Road Park at at 3 p.m. today.
N.C. State’s match against High Point will not only be its last nonconference game of the regular season, but it will mark the first nonconference game the Wolfpack has had in 10 matches — dating back to Sept. 17 when it played Virginia Commonwealth.
During this stretch of conference games, State has faced four top-25 teams including then No. 2 North Carolina and then No. 1 Florida State.
High Point comes into the match with a victory over it’s conference opponent Radford 3-1, while State comes into the game having lost its last three against conference opponents including a 1-0 overtime loss to Clemson on Sunday.
Despite the Panther’s record this season, coach Laura Kerrigan said based on the feedback she has received from other coaches that have played High Point this year; she expects a very tough game.
“I think a lot of people would look at their record and think they aren’t that good of a team,” Kerrigan said. “They have just been a bit unlucky this season. We are prepared for a tough battle.”
Based on the Panthers close losses of 2-1 against Miami, and 3-2 against Virginia Tech, both ACC opponents the Pack defeated this year, junior midfielder Jessica O’Rourke said she also expects a very tough match against High Point.
“They are a challenging team this year,” O’Rourke said. “We definitely have to come out with a win.”
Over the past eight matches the Pack has faced challenges scoring goals. Coming into the match versus the Panthers, the Pack has been shutout in five of its last eight matches only scoring four goals during that span.
In reaction to Sunday’s 1-0 overtime loss to Clemson and the team’s continued challenge to put the ball in the net, Kerrigan said there was one thing that the team had to focus on in order to win against High Point.
“Finish,” Kerrigan said.
“We created some good opportunities against Clemson but we just didn’t put them away, it’s creating the opportunities but it’s also taking advantage of what you create.”
O’Rourke reiterated Kerrigan’s beliefs that the opportunities to score have been there for the Pack, but added scoring is also more than opportunities.
“It is all about mentality and the desire to score,” O’Rourke said. “Sometimes you get unlucky, but you have to do what you can to make sure that you are giving every effort to get the ball into the net. That is going to be our focus.”
Including the match against the Panthers, State only has two games left in the regular season before it enters into the ACC tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
With the Pack having a record slightly above .500, O’Rourke said this game is just as important as any.
“We definitely have to come out with a win,” O’Rourke said. “I believe that we are going to win but it is very crucial that we actually do win.”
Kerrigan added this game is more than just a win or a loss, it is also critical to State’s entire season and postseason goals.
“This game is crucial to keep our NCAA hopes alive,” Kerrigan said. “Everyone knows that. We have talked about it as a team. This is a must-win situation for us tomorrow. We have to come ready to play.”
After its match with High Point, the Pack will play its last regular season game in Raleigh on Saturday against Virginia (9-6-2, 1-5-3 ACC) before starting the ACC tournament next Wednesday at SAS Soccer Park.
