Wednesday, August 27
Raleigh, NC
7 PM
NC State
vs
Western Carolina
Pack Returns Home to Host Western Carolina Wednesday
8/26/2025 8:32:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State women's soccer (0-3-1, 0-0-0 ACC) returns to Dail Soccer Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 27, for a 7 p.m. matchup against Western Carolina (1-2-1, 0-0-0 SoCon). The contest will be broadcast live on ACCNX.
The game will also feature Sustainability Night at the Dail, highlighted by giveaways of 150 straw toppers and 200 t-shirts for fans in attendance.
Last Time Out
NC State came up just short in a 1-0 loss to Davidson on Sunday, Aug. 24 at Alumni Soccer Stadium. The Wolfpack controlled much of the match, outshooting the Wildcats 10-4, but a 33rd-minute goal proved to be the difference.
In the first half, the Wolfpack controlled possession for long stretches in the attacking third but couldn't break through. Daisy Duda nearly put NC State ahead early with a shot on target that sailed just over the crossbar, while Emily Wong fired from outside the box later in the half, forcing a save after a deflection. Despite the Pack's pressure, it was Davidson that struck first, as Kiera Pohan found the net in the 33rd minute.
The Pack pushed for an equalizer after the break, outshooting Davidson 8-3 in the second half, but was unable to capitalize on its chances. Erica Roberts provided a spark off the bench with a team-high three shot attempts, while Sophia Hernandez also made an impact in her 20 minutes of action, helping control possession in the final third. Despite the late pressure, Davidson held on to secure the 1-0 result.
A Win Would …
Wednesday marks the fifth all-time meeting between NC State and Western Carolina, with the Wolfpack holding a 3-0-1 advantage in the series. The most recent matchup came in 2017, when NC State earned a 1-0 win at Dail Soccer Stadium. The Pack has allowed just one goal to the Catamounts across the four meetings, outscoring them 6-1 overall.
Scouting the Catamounts
Western Carolina enters Wednesday's match with a 1-2-1 record, most recently earning a 2-2 draw at Lipscomb. The Catamounts' lone win came against High Point (1-0), while their setbacks were to App State (3-2) and Georgia Southern (1-0).
Senior forward Milla Syska leads the team with two goals this season. She is coming off a career-best 2024 campaign in which she set new personal highs in goals (11, T-4th in single-season program history), assists (4), points (26), shots (60), shots on goal (31), and game-winning goals (4). Syska was named to the 2025 Preseason All-Southern Conference (SoCon) Team.
The Catamounts are led by head coach Chad Miller, now in his 16th season. Miller has earned SoCon Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons (2023, 2024) and guided Western Carolina to its first-ever undefeated SoCon regular season in 2024, outscoring league opponents 23-1.
Chances Being Created
While the Pack has just one goal through its first four matches, the team has kept pace with opponents in generating offensive opportunities. NC State holds a +8 edge in total shots (50-42) and a +6 margin in shots on goal (24-18). As the season continues, the Pack will look to find ways to capitalize on the high number of chances it's creating in games.
Welcome Home, Coach Higgins
NC State McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan named Higgins the sixth head coach in program history in December 2024. Higgins arrived in Raleigh after three seasons at East Carolina, where he guided the Pirates to a historic 2024 campaign that included a 10-4-7 record, an American Athletic Conference title, and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
Prior to his time at ECU, Higgins coached at his alma mater, Lenoir Rhyne, leading the Bears to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. The former standout player brings more than a decade of coaching experience and a proven track record of building winning programs.
Higgins' first year with the Wolfpack features an entirely new coaching staff. Associate head coach Joanna Fennema, a former North Carolina standout, led Lenoir Rhyne to the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Assistants David Rodriguez (NC Courage Academy) and Juan Basabe (Lenoir Rhyne) also join the staff, each bringing valuable collegiate and club-level experience.
Breaking Down the Roster
NC State opens 2025 with a 25-player roster featuring 14 returners and 11 newcomers, including five transfers, four freshmen and two sophomores. By class, the Pack have five seniors (one redshirt), nine juniors (one redshirt), seven sophomores and four freshmen.
The team returns its 2024 leaders in goals and points, Jade Bordeleau, and assists leader, Mana Nakata. Five starters from last season are back: Nakata (18 starts), Olivia Pratapas (17), Yuna Aoki (14), Alex Mohr (12) and Bordeleau (11).
Three transfers arrive from programs led by current staff including Mackenzie Smith and Roberts from ECU and Lilly Soltz from Lenoir Rhyne.
Up Next
The Wolfpack heads west to face Utah on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 9 p.m. ET. The game will air on ESPN+.
For all things NC State women's soccer, follow @packwsoccer on social media.
The game will also feature Sustainability Night at the Dail, highlighted by giveaways of 150 straw toppers and 200 t-shirts for fans in attendance.
Last Time Out
NC State came up just short in a 1-0 loss to Davidson on Sunday, Aug. 24 at Alumni Soccer Stadium. The Wolfpack controlled much of the match, outshooting the Wildcats 10-4, but a 33rd-minute goal proved to be the difference.
In the first half, the Wolfpack controlled possession for long stretches in the attacking third but couldn't break through. Daisy Duda nearly put NC State ahead early with a shot on target that sailed just over the crossbar, while Emily Wong fired from outside the box later in the half, forcing a save after a deflection. Despite the Pack's pressure, it was Davidson that struck first, as Kiera Pohan found the net in the 33rd minute.
The Pack pushed for an equalizer after the break, outshooting Davidson 8-3 in the second half, but was unable to capitalize on its chances. Erica Roberts provided a spark off the bench with a team-high three shot attempts, while Sophia Hernandez also made an impact in her 20 minutes of action, helping control possession in the final third. Despite the late pressure, Davidson held on to secure the 1-0 result.
A Win Would …
- Mark the first victory for the Wolfpack under first-year head coach Gary Higgins.
- Be the 403rd win in program history.
- Be Higgins' 111th win in his coaching career.
- Mark the 4th win over Western Carolina in the all-time series.
- Be the first victory of the 2025 campaign for NC State.
Wednesday marks the fifth all-time meeting between NC State and Western Carolina, with the Wolfpack holding a 3-0-1 advantage in the series. The most recent matchup came in 2017, when NC State earned a 1-0 win at Dail Soccer Stadium. The Pack has allowed just one goal to the Catamounts across the four meetings, outscoring them 6-1 overall.
Scouting the Catamounts
Western Carolina enters Wednesday's match with a 1-2-1 record, most recently earning a 2-2 draw at Lipscomb. The Catamounts' lone win came against High Point (1-0), while their setbacks were to App State (3-2) and Georgia Southern (1-0).
Senior forward Milla Syska leads the team with two goals this season. She is coming off a career-best 2024 campaign in which she set new personal highs in goals (11, T-4th in single-season program history), assists (4), points (26), shots (60), shots on goal (31), and game-winning goals (4). Syska was named to the 2025 Preseason All-Southern Conference (SoCon) Team.
The Catamounts are led by head coach Chad Miller, now in his 16th season. Miller has earned SoCon Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons (2023, 2024) and guided Western Carolina to its first-ever undefeated SoCon regular season in 2024, outscoring league opponents 23-1.
Chances Being Created
While the Pack has just one goal through its first four matches, the team has kept pace with opponents in generating offensive opportunities. NC State holds a +8 edge in total shots (50-42) and a +6 margin in shots on goal (24-18). As the season continues, the Pack will look to find ways to capitalize on the high number of chances it's creating in games.
Welcome Home, Coach Higgins
NC State McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan named Higgins the sixth head coach in program history in December 2024. Higgins arrived in Raleigh after three seasons at East Carolina, where he guided the Pirates to a historic 2024 campaign that included a 10-4-7 record, an American Athletic Conference title, and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.
Prior to his time at ECU, Higgins coached at his alma mater, Lenoir Rhyne, leading the Bears to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. The former standout player brings more than a decade of coaching experience and a proven track record of building winning programs.
Higgins' first year with the Wolfpack features an entirely new coaching staff. Associate head coach Joanna Fennema, a former North Carolina standout, led Lenoir Rhyne to the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Assistants David Rodriguez (NC Courage Academy) and Juan Basabe (Lenoir Rhyne) also join the staff, each bringing valuable collegiate and club-level experience.
Breaking Down the Roster
NC State opens 2025 with a 25-player roster featuring 14 returners and 11 newcomers, including five transfers, four freshmen and two sophomores. By class, the Pack have five seniors (one redshirt), nine juniors (one redshirt), seven sophomores and four freshmen.
The team returns its 2024 leaders in goals and points, Jade Bordeleau, and assists leader, Mana Nakata. Five starters from last season are back: Nakata (18 starts), Olivia Pratapas (17), Yuna Aoki (14), Alex Mohr (12) and Bordeleau (11).
Three transfers arrive from programs led by current staff including Mackenzie Smith and Roberts from ECU and Lilly Soltz from Lenoir Rhyne.
Up Next
The Wolfpack heads west to face Utah on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 9 p.m. ET. The game will air on ESPN+.
For all things NC State women's soccer, follow @packwsoccer on social media.
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