"We play one of the toughest nonconference schedules every year but, no doubt, this fall will be the hardest yet," Santoro said. "Add in the fact that the ACC is the best and deepest conference, we'll have our hands full again this year.
"There are different approaches to scheduling, and I believe this is the best path forward for NC State. I believe in my team."
After opening the season against VCU in an exhibition match on Aug. 12, the Wolfpack will welcome Utah on Aug. 17 before traveling to Charlotte for its road opener on Aug. 20. The Pack then hosts Rutgers for its first of two home matches against Big 10 opponents during the 2023 regular season.
NC State then travels to Colorado for a road trip at Colorado (Aug. 31) and Denver (Sept. 3). The Pioneers captured their fifth consecutive Summit League regular season title this past season.
The Wolfpack returns to Raleigh on Sept. 7 for a matchup against reigning Big 10 regular season champion Michigan State. Both of NC State's Big 10 opponents (Michigan State and Rutgers) secured berths to the NCAA Tournament this past season and finished inside the top 30 of the NCAA's final RPI poll
NC State concludes its nonconference road slate at Harvard on Sept. 10 before welcoming High Point for Senior Day on Sept. 14. Harvard, who finished No. 15 in the NCAA's final RPI poll, advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round a season ago.
The Pack opens Atlantic Coast Conference play at home against Pittsburgh on Sept. 17. NC State will also host North Carolina (Sept. 30), Virginia (Oct. 8), Syracuse (Oct. 19) and Notre Dame (Oct. 22) at Dail Soccer Stadium.
NC State will travel to Wake Forest (Sept. 21), Duke (Sept. 24), Virginia Tech (Oct. 5), Miami (Oct. 14) and Florida State (Oct. 26) in ACC play.
Overall, six (one-third) of NC State's 2023 regular season opponents finished inside the top 10 of the NCAA's final RPI poll. Nine of the Pack's opponents finished inside of the top 30, while 10 finished inside the top 50 of the NCAA's final RPI poll.
The ACC Tournament quarterfinals will be held Oct. 29 at select campus sites while the semifinals and finals will take place Nov. 2-5 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.
The NCAA First Round is slated for Nov. 10-12, while the second and third rounds will be held Nov. 17-19. The Elite Eight will be played Nov. 24-26 at select campus sites before the NCAA College Cup returns to WakeMed Soccer Park from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.
NC State concluded the 2022 season with a 7-7-6 record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive fall campaign. The Wolfpack finished No. 36 out of 348 Division I teams in the NCAA's final RPI poll and has reached the NCAA Tournament Second Round in five of the past six fall seasons.
The program has already welcomed five newcomers to the 2023 roster while 18 players return from this past year's squad. NC State also announced the additions of assistant coach Maddy Haro and associate head coach Sebastian Vecchio earlier this spring.
https://gopack.com/news/2023/6/6/womens-soccer-womens-soccer-releases-2023-schedule