As the women’s soccer team prepares for its ACC tournament opener today at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. State (9-8-2, 3-7 ACC) will try to accomplish what has happened only once in the history of Wolfpack women’s soccer.
In 2002, Pack forward Lindsey Underwood scored the game-winning goal as State defeated North Carolina 2-1 for its first-ever victory against the Tar Heels.
Heading into today’s noon kickoff, the Pack, the ACC’s No. 8 seed, is looking for the second victory in school history against the No. 1-seeded Tar Heels. The two rivals last met in the postseason in 2003, when UNC defeated State 6-2.
North Carolina (18-1, 10-0 ACC) defeated the Pack 4-1 earlier this season. State got its only goal from sophomore forward Lindsay Vera.
“Playing against UNC, their whole system is based on pressure,” coach Laura Kerrigan said. “We’re going to have to move the ball very quickly in our back half of the field. Their whole system is designed to pressure you in their front half of the field. It’ll be about alleviating pressure and finishing the opportunities you get. You don’t get a lot of opportunities against UNC, so you’ve got to put them away when you do.”
Junior midfielder Jessica O’Rourke said the Pack has a chance to repeat the 2002 result and advance past the first round of the tournament.
“If we come out and play like we know how to play and we put our opportunities away, we have a great shot,” O’Rourke said. “It’s all about putting away your opportunities. You only get a few a game, but if you can put them away, you can beat any team.”
Freshman goalkeeper Sydney Little said the team is excited about taking on the Heels.
“We’re pumped about playing UNC,” Little said. “They’re an amazing team, and it would be awesome to beat them.
We’re just going to take it step-by-step with them. It’s going to be fun. I grew up in Garner, so I’ve been watching State play since I was 5 years old. I’ve always gone to see the ACC tournament. It’s very exciting; it’s a dream come true.”
Kerrigan said she doesn’t have to say as much to motivate the players when it comes to facing UNC.
“I think when you go to N.C. State, there’s nothing a coach has to say to get you up for a game against UNC,” she said. “Add on to the fact that UNC women’s soccer has been considered the top team for years and years. The motivation to win is there, no question.”
With State’s 3-2 overtime loss to Virginia on Saturday, State likely needs a win against UNC to keep its NCAA tournament hopes alive.
“If we can win against either Virginia or UNC, we’ll be in a good position,” Kerrigan said after the Pack defeated High Point last Wednesday. “We don’t control who gets in and who doesn’t, but those are two top-10 teams. We don’t have any bad losses on our record, and we have a tie against a top-20 team.”
Kerrigan said the team knows what it has to do.
“We need to be prepared, and we need to play technically smart,” she said. “We need to be quick, and we need to finish our opportunities.”
O’Rourke said ACC tournament matches are even more intense than the regular-season games.
“The tournament winner gets an automatic NCAA tournament bid,” O’Rourke said. “The teams that maybe didn’t do that well in the regular season — it’s all or nothing for them. Everybody’s really playing with a lot more intensity. It’s going to be a great game. It’s going to be tough. Knocking off UNC in the first round would be amazing.”
The State/UNC winner will advance to the semifinals to play the winner of the game between No. 4 Boston College and No. 5 Clemson. The semifinal match will be played Friday at 5 p.m. at SAS Soccer Park.
