RECAPPING AUGUST: NC State women's soccer looking for complete performance
It has been a tough start to the 2025 campaign for NC State's new women's soccer head coach, Gary Higgins. The Wolfpack looks to get on the winning track in September, beginning with Thursday at Elon.
Inside Pack Sports beat writer Rob McLamb shares his thoughts on the Pack in August.
August Results: (0-5-1)
Thursday, August 14: James Madison 3, NC State 0
Sunday, August 17: NC State 1, East Carolina 1
GOAL: Antonella Mazziotto (1)
Thursday, August 21: No. 20 Michigan State 3, NC State 0
Sunday, August 24: Davidson 1, NC State 0
Wednesday, August 27: Western Carolina 3, NC State 2
GOALS: Jade Bordeleau (1), Jade Bordeleau (2)
Sunday, August 31: Utah 3, NC State 0
September Schedule
Thursday, September 4: NC State at Elon (7 p.m.), FloCollege
Sunday, September 7: Campbell at NC State (7 p.m.), ESPN+
Thursday, September 11: Notre Dame at NC State (7 p.m.), ACCNX
Thursday, September 18: NC State at SMU (7 p.m.), ACCNX
Sunday, September 21: Florida State at NC State (1 p.m.), ACCNX
Saturday, September 27, NC State at Virginia Tech (7 p.m.), ACCNX
SEARCHING FOR THE CLEAN GAME
NC State likely knew going into the 2025 campaign that there would be nights where the talent would be less than the opponent they were facing.
Perhaps one of the biggest hopes for the Wolfpack’s new head coach, Gary Higgins, was getting his squad to play to the top of its ability with performances that eliminate the mistakes that can bury a team at the college level. If the talent was then enough to generate a result with a close to clean performance, so be it.
It has to be disconcerting for Higgins to watch his team go through spells of highly competitive soccer only for it to be mitigated by several minutes of avoidable mishaps. The process of becoming a winner is often a bumpy road, but the Wolfpack has periods where it is stunting its own growth.
At East Carolina and at Davidson, NC State controlled possession. At home against Western Carolina, it was the Wolfpack who took nearly 80 percent of the game’s shot attempts.
In those three contests, the Pack earned only a road draw at ECU.
In Sunday’s loss at Utah, with possession dominated by the hosts, NC State was able to tighten its belts to the effect of limiting the Utes to few chances for the final 35 minutes of the first half. That led to the next 25 minutes after intermission, when Utah took only four shots. That is the performance needed to compete against in-state league rivals, as well as Florida State and Notre Dame.
It must be extended for longer if the Pack is looking for results. At some point, there has to be something that resembles a 90-minute effort of limited mistakes and taking chances when they arise.
CREATING CHANCES
The Wolfpack has scored one goal this season in open play and only three goals overall.
NC State’s lone goal in open play came 23 minutes into the home loss against Western Carolina – a game where the Pack peppered the Catamounts with 23 shots but conceded three goals to WCU on only six shot attempts.
There have been prolonged bouts of inactivity in the opposition’s half, and there have been other instances where NCSU has been on the front foot for decent stretches, but the result has been the same.
The Pack needs finishers. It must come within until Higgins has a chance to truly scour the recruiting trail and transfer markets. Right now, the front of NC State’s formation is putting the back in a position where they have to play flawlessly, which has not happened. The ACC games are coming soon.
A TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
The schedule in September – and for that matter, the remainder of the season – is not providing NC State with many chances to get its bearings straight. The ACC is a meat grinder for the best of teams. Struggling when entering league play is like bleeding in an ocean full of sharks.
On paper, the Wolfpack will have its best chances for wins during the month with its first two games in September, at Elon and Campbell at home.
The beauty of soccer is that upsets are not quite the outlier that they are in other sports. It is more common to see teams that are struggling or smaller in stature stand tall against the bigger and better squads. Manchester United’s recent crash out of the League Cup at the hands (or feet) of Grimsby Town is a prime example. It is a win that will be long remembered, but it is also not the first time that a goliath was struck with a stone.
If NC State can muster the character and resolve that it takes to build a consistent winner, without hanging its head during the tough times now and ahead, there are results for the taking this season.
But that is the biggest test ahead for the Wolfpack. Trying to grow and be a part of the foundation for future success is not always a low-hanging fruit.
Will the NC State players strive to be better tomorrow when they are struggling today? That is the big question so far for the 2025 version of the Pack.
