Thursday, October 5
Blacksburg, Va.
8 p.m.
NC State
at
Virginia Tech
@PackWSoccer Travels to Virginia Tech for Matchup on ACC Network
10/4/2023 10:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State women's soccer travels to Blacksburg, Virginia, on Thursday for a match at Virginia Tech. Thursday night's match is set for 8 p.m. and will be televised on ACC Network.
LAST TIME OUT
NC State drew a record crowd of 3,972 fans at Dail Soccer Stadium for Saturday's home defeat against No. 1 North Carolina. The Tar Heels scored twice in each half to record the 4-0 road victory. NC State's Olivia Pratapas tied her career-high with eight saves, while Jameese Joseph logged both of NC State's shot attempts.
SERIES HISTORY
NC State and Virginia Tech will face off for the 18th time on Thursday night. A few notes tracking the Pack's ACC contest in Blacksburg are listed below:
• NC State's most recent win in the series came on the road in Blacksburg on Oct. 22, 2017. Maxine Blackwood scored the game-winner in double overtime to lift NC State to a 1-0 victory at Thompson Field.
• The past four matches in the series have been low-scoring affairs with the two teams averaging a total of just 1.25 goals per game. Three of those four matches have had scorelines of 1-0. The lone exception was a 1-1 overtime draw in Raleigh in 2019.
• NC State won four of the first five matchups in the series with the first game dating back to Sept. 1, 1998. The Wolfpack outscored the Hokies by a combined score of 12-6 in those first five matches.
• Virginia Tech leads the overall series 11-5-1.
NEW RECORD (AGAIN) AT THE DAIL
One in, one out. That was the attendance situation on Saturday for NC State's record-breaking crowd against Tobacco Road rival and top-ranked North Carolina. Before halftime, Dail Soccer Stadium hit fire marshal capacity at 3,972 fans. Fans outside the stadium were only allowed in if fans inside the facility exited for a one-to-one swap.
The record crowd of 3,972 shatters the previous record set on Sept. 7 against Michigan State (2,506). On that night, the first 200 students received Barbie-themed T-shirts for "Barbie Night" at Dail Soccer Stadium. That new record shattered the previous total (2,023 against UNC on Oct. 1, 2010) by over 450 people.
Overall, NC State ranks 11th nationally in cumulative attendance with 9,940 fans attending games at The Dail this season. The mark ranks third among all ACC programs, while the Pack's average attendance of 1,657 ranks 10th nationally and also third among all ACC teams.
STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
NC State's sustained success has garnered national attention as the Wolfpack ranked No. 15 in SoccerWire's 2023 list of Top 50 Current NCAA Women's Soccer Programs. The rankings were based on a combination of final United Soccer Coaches Polls and Rating Percentage Index (RPI) from each season, with bonuses awarded for NCAA Tournament qualification and College Cup victories.
SCOUTING THE HOKIES
Virginia Tech has opened ACC play with a 2-2 record, earning back-to-back road victories at Boston College and Syracuse two weeks ago. The Hokies' most recent ACC match came at home against No. 25 Wake Forest, falling 2-0 to the Demon Deacons behind a pair of second-half goals from the visitors. Virginia Tech was predicted to finish one spot ahead of NC State in the 2023 ACC Preseason Coaches Poll, checking in at No. 9. Sophomore Natalie Mitchell leads the Hokies with six goals and 13 points, while goalkeeper Alia Skinner has started every minute in goal this season with six shutouts. The Hokies rank tied for 50th nationally and fifth alone in the ACC with 0.750 goals allowed per game this season.
STEPPING UP BETWEEN THE POSTS
Junior goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas has stepped into the starting role following the season-ending injury to Maria Echezarreta. Pratapas, who spent her first two seasons at Louisville, has started every match for NC State since its road matchup at Denver. Pratapas logged her first-career shutout in Sept. 24's 0-0 draw at No. 16 Duke, making four saves to help the Wolfpack earn a point in its second straight ACC road match. She ranks second in the ACC with 5.33 saves per game, tying her career-high four times with eight saves.
UP NEXT
NC State returns to Dail Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon for its second straight matchup on ACC Network. Kickoff against Virginia is set for 2 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
NC State drew a record crowd of 3,972 fans at Dail Soccer Stadium for Saturday's home defeat against No. 1 North Carolina. The Tar Heels scored twice in each half to record the 4-0 road victory. NC State's Olivia Pratapas tied her career-high with eight saves, while Jameese Joseph logged both of NC State's shot attempts.
SERIES HISTORY
NC State and Virginia Tech will face off for the 18th time on Thursday night. A few notes tracking the Pack's ACC contest in Blacksburg are listed below:
• NC State's most recent win in the series came on the road in Blacksburg on Oct. 22, 2017. Maxine Blackwood scored the game-winner in double overtime to lift NC State to a 1-0 victory at Thompson Field.
• The past four matches in the series have been low-scoring affairs with the two teams averaging a total of just 1.25 goals per game. Three of those four matches have had scorelines of 1-0. The lone exception was a 1-1 overtime draw in Raleigh in 2019.
• NC State won four of the first five matchups in the series with the first game dating back to Sept. 1, 1998. The Wolfpack outscored the Hokies by a combined score of 12-6 in those first five matches.
• Virginia Tech leads the overall series 11-5-1.
NEW RECORD (AGAIN) AT THE DAIL
One in, one out. That was the attendance situation on Saturday for NC State's record-breaking crowd against Tobacco Road rival and top-ranked North Carolina. Before halftime, Dail Soccer Stadium hit fire marshal capacity at 3,972 fans. Fans outside the stadium were only allowed in if fans inside the facility exited for a one-to-one swap.
The record crowd of 3,972 shatters the previous record set on Sept. 7 against Michigan State (2,506). On that night, the first 200 students received Barbie-themed T-shirts for "Barbie Night" at Dail Soccer Stadium. That new record shattered the previous total (2,023 against UNC on Oct. 1, 2010) by over 450 people.
Overall, NC State ranks 11th nationally in cumulative attendance with 9,940 fans attending games at The Dail this season. The mark ranks third among all ACC programs, while the Pack's average attendance of 1,657 ranks 10th nationally and also third among all ACC teams.
STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE
NC State's sustained success has garnered national attention as the Wolfpack ranked No. 15 in SoccerWire's 2023 list of Top 50 Current NCAA Women's Soccer Programs. The rankings were based on a combination of final United Soccer Coaches Polls and Rating Percentage Index (RPI) from each season, with bonuses awarded for NCAA Tournament qualification and College Cup victories.
SCOUTING THE HOKIES
Virginia Tech has opened ACC play with a 2-2 record, earning back-to-back road victories at Boston College and Syracuse two weeks ago. The Hokies' most recent ACC match came at home against No. 25 Wake Forest, falling 2-0 to the Demon Deacons behind a pair of second-half goals from the visitors. Virginia Tech was predicted to finish one spot ahead of NC State in the 2023 ACC Preseason Coaches Poll, checking in at No. 9. Sophomore Natalie Mitchell leads the Hokies with six goals and 13 points, while goalkeeper Alia Skinner has started every minute in goal this season with six shutouts. The Hokies rank tied for 50th nationally and fifth alone in the ACC with 0.750 goals allowed per game this season.
STEPPING UP BETWEEN THE POSTS
Junior goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas has stepped into the starting role following the season-ending injury to Maria Echezarreta. Pratapas, who spent her first two seasons at Louisville, has started every match for NC State since its road matchup at Denver. Pratapas logged her first-career shutout in Sept. 24's 0-0 draw at No. 16 Duke, making four saves to help the Wolfpack earn a point in its second straight ACC road match. She ranks second in the ACC with 5.33 saves per game, tying her career-high four times with eight saves.
UP NEXT
NC State returns to Dail Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon for its second straight matchup on ACC Network. Kickoff against Virginia is set for 2 p.m.
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