North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Stanford
10/28/2026 8:32:00 AM | Women's Soccer
With two regular-season matches remaining, the Wolfpack remains in contention for a spot in the 2026 ACC Championship while pursuing its ultimate goal of earning a berth in the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2022.
A Win Would...
- Mark Gary Higgins' 16th victory as head coach at NC State.
- Be the 418th win in program history.
- Be Higgins' 126th win in his coaching career.
- Mark the program's 1st ever win over Stanford.
- Mark NC State's 11th win of the season.
- Be the Pack's fourth ACC win of the season.
Last Time Out
NC State fell 1-0 to then No. 6 Duke at Koskinen Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24. The teams went into halftime scoreless, with the Blue Devils holding a narrow 5-4 edge in shots. Mana Nakata and Antonella Mazziotto each recorded a shot on goal in the opening half. Duke broke the deadlock in the 60th minute on a goal by Avery Oder. The Wolfpack pushed for an equalizer in the second half, with Erica Roberts, Mazziotto and Nakata each putting a shot on goal, but could not find the net against the Blue Devils.
Series History
Thursday's match will mark the third meeting between NC State and Stanford, with the Cardinal holding a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series. The teams have yet to play to a draw.
Both previous meetings have taken place in Raleigh, with Stanford earning 2-0 victories in 1990 and 2024. The most recent matchup marked the first time the teams met as ACC opponents. Thursday's contest will be NC State's first trip to Stanford.
Scouting the Cardinal
Stanford enters Thursday's match with a 9-3-2 overall record and a 3-3-1 mark in ACC play, placing the Cardinal ninth in the league standings with 10 points. Stanford is coming off a 1-0 loss to No. 2 UNC in a top-10 matchup, as the Tar Heels scored in the 70th minute to secure the victory over the then-No. 7 Cardinal.
Stanford is led by Knowles Family Director of Women's Soccer Paul Ratcliffe, the reigning ACC Coach of the Year. In 23 seasons, Ratcliffe has become Stanford's winningest soccer coach, leading the Cardinal to three national championships, 11 conference titles and 12 College Cup appearances. He has guided Stanford to the NCAA Tournament in all but one season of his tenure.
For the latest on NC State women's soccer, follow @PackWSoccer on social media.
