In a defensive showdown, NC State women’s soccer emerged victorious with a 1–0 win at Pitt, marking the third straight victory for the Pack.
Despite failing to record a win till its eighth game of the season, the Wolfpack (5-6-4, 4-1-2 ACC) is continuing to orchestrate a miraculous turnaround in ACC play following the win over the Panthers (5-8-2, 1-6-0 ACC). For the first time since 2021, NC State has earned three straight ACC victories, and for the first time since 2017, the Pack has a six-game unbeaten streak in conference play. After a rocky start, new head coach Gary Higgins has settled in nicely.
Searching for its first victory against Pitt since 2018, the Wolfpack opened the game strong defensively. Senior goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas put out an impressive performance with multiple early saves to keep things even. While the Pack never broke through for a goal in the first half, the Pack remained focused and didn’t let its offensive struggles hurt its defense.
NC State once again needed Pratapas to shine in the second half — and the goalkeeper delivered perfectly. Almost instantly in the second half, Pitt took the offensive and forced the Pack to defend. With a cross to set up an open shot, the Panthers were denied once again by Pratapas, who made a diving save. The play proved critical as NC State’s offense remained stagnant with little sign of a breakthrough.
After a long wait, the Pack offense kicked down the doors in the 61st minute mark and struck gold with its first and only goal of the night.
Junior forward and rising star Jade Bordeleau took a shot that ricocheted off a Pitt defender and kept the Pack off the board. However, sophomore midfielder Mana Nakata was in the right place at the right time and secured the ball before drilling a shot past Pitt’s goalkeeper and into the back corner of the net, giving NC State a 1-0 advantage.
Now holding the lead, the pressure remained on NC State’s defense to keep the Panthers off the scoresheet. Pitt totaled five total shots in the second half, but converted none. With the defensive line swarming to the ball and Pratapas locked in as an impassable wall at the goal, NC State completed the shutout — Pratapas’ second straight and fifth of the season.
Now 3-0-0 in October, NC State is playing its best soccer in years as it enters the final stretch of the regular season. With three games remaining, the Pack has an opportunity to make it an October to remember, especially with rivals No. 9 Duke and No. 23 North Carolina looming at the end of the schedule.
Next up, NC State will return home for a match against Louisville. The game is scheduled for Thursday Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. The Cardinals are a formidable opponent with an 11-3-1 record, but have struggled away from home with just a 2-3-1 road record.