North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Elon
Wolfpack Welcomes Elon for Mental Health Match
8/22/2026 10:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State hosts Elon at Dail Soccer Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 23, at 7:30 p.m. as part of another doubleheader with the men's program, which will face Queens at 5 p.m. The women's match will serve as the program's Mental Health Night.
The Wolfpack enters Sunday's match a perfect 3-0 and is looking to start a season 4-0 for the first time since 2013.
A Win Would …
- Mark Gary Higgins' ninth victory as head coach at NC State.
- Be the 411th win in program history.
- Be Higgins' 119th win in his coaching career.
- Mark the program's 17th all-time win over Elon.
- Mark the fourth win of the season for NC State.
- Move NC State to 4-0 to start a season for the first time since 2013.
Last Time Out
NC State women's soccer scored three first-half goals before adding a late fourth to defeat Charlotte, 4-1, on Thursday evening at Dail Soccer Stadium and move to 3-0 for the first time since 2022. The Wolfpack has now scored at least three goals in each of its first three matches for the first time since 2013.
The Wolfpack has had nine different goal scorers through its first three matches, three more than it had during the entire 2025 season. Katie Richter, Yuna Aoki, Fien Leijdekker and Madison Casteen each found the back of the net against Charlotte, while NC State's 11 goals already surpass its total from the entire 2025 nonconference season.
Deepened Attack on Display
The increased depth in NC State's attack has been on full display through the first three matches of the season, with the Wolfpack's 11 goals coming from nine different players: Jade Bordeleau (3), Erica Roberts (1), Alex Mohr (1), Antonella Mazziotto (1), Daisy Duda (1), Casteen (1), Richter (1), Leijdekker (1) and Aoki (1).
The balanced scoring attack reflects the depth NC State has added under Higgins. While Bordeleau remains a key piece of the Wolfpack's attack, NC State has shown it can get production from throughout its lineup, giving the team multiple scoring threats and making the attack more difficult to defend.
Scouting the Phoenix
Elon enters Sunday's match 2-0 after opening the 2026 season with wins over VCU, 4-1, and South Carolina State, 6-0. The Phoenix are coming off a 2025 campaign that saw them capture the CAA Tournament championship and earn an NCAA Tournament berth before falling to No. 11 Duke in the first round.
Head coach Neil Payne is in his ninth season at the helm of the Phoenix. Last season, he guided Elon to its second CAA championship and third NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Payne has amassed 68 wins at Elon and owns a winning record during his tenure.
Series History
Sunday's match marks the 18th all-time meeting between NC State and Elon. The Wolfpack holds a 16-0-1 advantage in the series, with the lone draw coming in the teams' most recent meeting.
The teams played to a 0-0 draw in Elon last season, a match Higgins has identified as a turning point for Bordeleau. Bordeleau recorded seven shots, including two on goal, in the match and has since scored 13 goals across the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Her development since that match has helped her emerge as an All-ACC performer.
For the latest on NC State women's soccer, follow @PackWSoccer on social media.
