Securing another positive result on the road, NC State women’s soccer earned a late draw at Virginia Tech, netting a game-tying goal with seven seconds to play.

After a two-hour weather delay, the Wolfpack (2-6-4) and Hokies (4-5-3) kicked off their game in Blacksburg, Virginia. And from there, it was back-and-forth with the teams trading goals until the final whistle. Junior forward Jade Bordeleau opened the scoring with a goal in the 22nd minute, deflecting her shot off a Hokie defender into the back of the net. Virginia Tech rebounded in the 39th minute as the Hokies were awarded a penalty and scored to tie up the game before halftime.

It didn’t take as long for the teams to get on the scoresheet in the second half. Six minutes in, the Hokies scored again on a deep free kick fired into the bottom left corner past senior goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas. The Wolfpack responded with a long-shot goal by sophomore Mana Nakata, looped over the Hokies’ keeper into the top-right corner from 40 yards out in the 59th minute to tie the game 2-2.
It stayed even for just two minutes as Virginia Tech scored again in the 61st minute after slipping through the Wolfpack back line. But once again, the Pack responded. Sophomore midfielder Fien Leijdekker found the back of the net in the 69th minute on yet another goal rifled from well outside the box.

As the game was winding down, the Hokies scored what seemed like the game-winner in the 86th minute on a late offensive rush. But the Pack did not quit. Right when the final whistle was sure to blow, sophomore forward Antonella Mazziotto netted the late equalizer with seven seconds to play, helping the Pack secure a positive road conference result.

Any team, whether good or bad, needs time to adjust to new leadership. The Wolfpack needed uplifting after its less-than-ideal season last year, where the Pack went 4-10-4. The struggles continued at first to begin head coach Gary Higgins’ debut season with the Pack, starting 0-5-1. With many losses and fighting tooth and nail for a draw, the era of Higgins was looking glum.

But after a 1-0 win in Dallas against SMU and a 1-1 draw at home against Florida State, the Wolfpack’s future looked promising. With this matchup, NC State continues to show its newfound resilience. With the upcoming game at home, the Pack will look to continue giving the same energy.

And quickly, it will face another test as NC State is set to take on No. 18 Wake Forest (9-1-2) at Dail Soccer Field on Thursday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m.