For the first time since 2022, the Wolfpack earned a road ACC win, breaking through in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday night against the SMU Mustangs.
The breakthrough came in the 50th minute, when junior forward Jade Bordeleau’s shot from the far right side grazed in between the SMU keeper and tucked inside the post for the lone goal in NC State’s 1-0 win.
The Wolfpack (2-6-2, 1-1-0 ACC) and the Mustangs (6-3-1, 0-1-1 ACC) kept a clean sheet for the first half, but the Mustangs dominated the shots on goal with six compared to the Wolfpack’s one. Halftime must’ve sparked something in both teams as the Wolfpack posted nine shots, nearly half of them being on goal. SMU seemed to struggle, having seven shots with only two on goal.
For the remainder of the game, both teams held their ground and continued to make attempts, but ultimately, the Wolfpack came out on top. The ups and downs of the game kept it interesting. Both teams came out strong and answered each other’s energy to make it a true back-and-forth battle.
This matchup was the first meeting between NC State and SMU in 20 years. NC State now holds a 5-2-0 record against the Mustangs. The last road conference win for the Wolfpack was against Clemson in 2022 with a 2-1 score.
SMU was a tough opponent for the Wolfpack. The Mustangs dominated their non-conference slate with a record of 5-1, with their only losses coming on the road to then-No. 10 Wake Forest and Texas Tech. But the Pack came out fighting, making a poised defensive effort and posting a clean sheet.
Since the start of the season, the Wolfpack struggled under new coach Gary Higgins, not securing its first win until eight games into the season. The Wolfpack had resorted to celebrating draws against Elon after many losses, but since then, it has shown its teeth.
This win could potentially mark a turning point for the Wolfpack. Coming from a recent 2-1 loss against then-No. 6 Notre Dame last Friday, the Wolfpack seemed to have come together for this historic win. Its 4-0 win against Campbell marked its first of the season, with this game marking the second.
In the more recent games since the win against Campbell and the close loss to Notre Dame, the Wolfpack has shown growth in both its playing style, competitiveness and communication skills on the field. It seems that the team has become accustomed to the new playing and coaching style of Higgins. If this same energy and style of playing continues, the Wolfpack could make waves in the back half of the season.
The Wolfpack is scheduled to host the Florida State Seminoles on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m.
