Pack Downs VCU to Start Season 2-0 for First Time Since 2022

Sunday, August 16

Richmond, Va.

1 PM

NC State

2-0-0, 0-0-0

VCU

0-2-0, 0-0-0

Team	1	2	Final F
NC State	2	2	4
VCU	0	0	0

Pack Downs VCU to Start Season 2-0 for First Time Since 2022

8/16/2026 3:27:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Va. - NC State women's soccer dominated VCU, 4-0, on Sunday afternoon at VCU Athletic Village to open the season 2-0 for the first time since 2022. Four different players found the back of the net for the Wolfpack, including Daisy Duda, who recorded a career-high three points with her first collegiate goal and an assist. NC State outshot VCU 32-9 and held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.

Duda opened the scoring in the 12th minute on a play that started with a long throw-in from the Wolfpack. Emily Wong collected a loose ball that came off the head of Jade Bordeleau before finding Duda, who finished to score the first goal of her collegiate career.

Bordeleau doubled the Wolfpack's advantage in the 35th minute with her third goal of the season. Fien Leijdekker played a perfect ball into Bordeleau's path at the top of the box, giving the senior plenty of space to fire a left-footed finish into the bottom-right corner.

NC State carried a 2-0 lead into halftime after dominating the opening 45 minutes, outshooting the Rams 15-5 and holding a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Erica Roberts extended the Wolfpack's lead in the 62nd minute with her first goal in an NC State uniform. The senior finished a pass from Mary Frances Symmes with a right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner, giving Symmes her second career assist.

Antonella Mazziotto capped the scoring in the 72nd minute, heading home a corner kick from Duda for her third career goal. Duda finished the afternoon with a career-high three points as the Wolfpack cruised to a 4-0 victory in Richmond.

Of Note:

Bordeleau scored the 19th goal of her career and her third of the season, leading NC State with three goals through the first two matches.
Duda scored the first goal of her career after leading the Wolfpack with five assists as a freshman in 2025. She added her sixth career assist on Mazziotto's goal to finish with a career-high three points.
Roberts scored her first goal in an NC State uniform and the second of her career. She also led the Wolfpack with 10 shots.
Mazziotto scored the third goal of her career.
Wong recorded the first assist of her career, while Symmes recorded her second and Leijdekker recorded her third.
Freshman Amor Leigh Martin Esteban made her second collegiate start in goal and recorded the first two saves of her career. Ellie Breech played the second half and made her first two saves for the Wolfpack.
Lilly Soltz and Avery Richards each made their NC State debuts, playing 25 and 14 minutes, respectively.
The Wolfpack outshot VCU 32-9 and held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.
With seven goals through the first two matches of the season, NC State has already matched its total from the entire 2025 nonconference season.
The victory marked Gary Higgins' seventh win as NC State's head coach and the 117th of his coaching career.
NC State earned its ninth all-time win over VCU and extended its winning streak against the Rams to seven matches.
The Wolfpack is 2-0 to start a season for the first time since 2022 and has opened with two road victories for the first time since 2017.
NC State's seven goals through two matches are its most to open a season since 2010.

Up Next
NC State makes its 2026 home debut Thursday, Aug. 20, welcoming Charlotte to Dail Soccer Stadium at 5 p.m. as part of a Red Out doubleheader with the men's program. The Wolfpack men will open their season against Coastal Carolina at 7:30 p.m. Both matches will air on ACCNX.

For the latest on NC State women's soccer, follow @PackWSoccer on social media.