The beginning of a new school year also marks the beginning of the season for several NC State sports. There is a lot to look forward to in the 2025 season, ranging from football to cross country. Here’s a quick preview and recap of all five fall sports to get an idea of what to expect from them.
Women’s Soccer
The NC State women’s soccer team debuted at home at Dail Soccer Stadium against James Madison University (JMU) on Aug. 14, 2025. This also marked the debut of first-year head coach Gary Higgins. The team failed to score a goal and ultimately lost 3-0 against JMU.
Additionally, this game included the collegiate debuts of freshmen Emily Wong, Daisy Duda and sophomore Fien Leijdekker. Junior Mackenzie Smith, returned after playing a season at East Carolina University (ECU). Redshirt senior, Tierra Garnis, transferring from the University of Rhode Island, also debuted with the Wolfpack that night.
The first two goals occurred in the first half of the game, one being an own goal from the Wolfpack. Their last goal was made in the 75th minute. Despite the loss, the Wolfpack matched their attempts to score near the goal at a 5-6 ratio.
On Sunday, Aug. 17, the team played against East Carolina University, ending in a 1-1 tie. The header goal was made by sophomore Antonella Mazziotto from a corner kick by sophomore Mana Nakata. Despite the draw, the Wolfpack led in offense, ending in a 17-14 attempts to score ratio over ECU.
This game marked Mazziotto’s first career goal and the team’s first goal of the season. Additionally, she led the Wolfpack offense, making five of the 17 shots made throughout the game.
The NC State women’s soccer team still has the rest of the season to leave an impression. They’ll play Michigan State University, Davidson College and Western Carolina University in the next coming weeks. The team’s first ACC game will be against the University of Notre Dame on September 11, 2025.
Men’s Soccer
Last year, the team finished with a 10-5-5 overall record and a 3-3-2 conference record (win-loss-tie). Senior Taig Healy will continue with the Wolfpack after leading the team by getting 18 points, 56 shots, 21 shots on goal and six assists during the 2024 season after transferring from the University of New Hampshire.
The Wolfpack entered the 2024 ACC Championship but lost in the first round against the University of Virginia, 1-2. They then made it to the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Tournament by beating the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (2-1) and Georgetown University (2-0). However, they were eliminated by Marshall University (1-2), ending their NCAA tournament run.
The NC State Men’s soccer team made its season debut on Aug. 21, 2025, at Dail Soccer Stadium against Queens University of Charlotte. The game ended with a 2-0 score. The first goal was made by junior Donavan Philip and the second by sophomore Nikola Markovic with an assist by freshman Riley Moloney.
Their second game of the season was against Wofford College at home, where the men’s team won 6-0. Donavan Philip managed to score a hat-trick (three goals in one game) in the span of five minutes. Junior and transfer from Missouri State University, Tyler Caton and fifth-year senior Max Ogawa scored their first goals with the Wolfpack. The last goal was an own-goal by Wofford.
They’re set to play Florida International University and UNC-Chapel Hill in their next two games. The team will play its first ACC game at home against Boston College on Sept. 19 at Newton Campus Lacrosse & Soccer Field in Chestnut Hill, MA.
Football
After losing to ECU 26-21 in the 2024 Military Bowl in December, the NC State football team is scheduled to play its home opener against them on Aug. 28, 2025, at Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack ended the 2024 season with a 6-7 overall record and a 3-5 conference record. Losing against Duke University, Wake Forest University and Georgia Tech last year, the team is scheduled to play them again this season. The team will be led by head coach Dave Doeren for the 13th consecutive season.
In November, the team is set to play UNC, after securing a 35-30 win against them last year for the fourth year in a row. UNC will be led by its new head coach, ex-New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
In terms of preseason rankings, in ESPN’s SPSo+ ranking, the Wolfpack is placed at No. 46, right under this season’s opponents, Duke, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. They will play their first game against Wake Forest at the Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium in Winston-Salem, NC.
Volleyball
NC State’s volleyball team finished the 2024 season with a 16-13 overall record and an 11-9 conference record. It ended with an NCAA tournament loss against the University of Florida. The NC State volleyball team was hosted by Davidson College for their exhibition game at John M. Belk Arena in Davidson, NC on Aug. 23, 2025.
Following this game, the team will play in a series of invitationals and tournaments against opponents such as the University of South Carolina and Coastal Carolina University.
The Wolfpack will play their first conference game against Duke on Sept 26, 2025, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC. This season also marks the team’s 50th anniversary since NC State began considering it a varsity sport.
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country
After their strong performances last year, the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams are to continue through the 2025 season. The women’s team placed fifth overall and the men’s team placed seventh overall in the 2024 ACC Championship. In the NCAA, the women’s team placed eighth in the 2024 NCAA Championship.
The teams will open the 2025 season at the Adidas XC Challenge in Cary, NC, on Sept 19, 2025. The women’s cross country team will continue to be led by Head Coach Laurie Henes and the men’s team by Head Coach Rollie Geiger.
While some teams have performed better than others, it is exciting to see their new athletes, coaches and staff. In general, it is an exciting time to be a fan of both college and professional sports.
This four-month-long season will bring lots of changes and new things across the five different sports teams. When we make it to the end of the season, we’ll see what the NC State Wolfpack can bring home: championship titles or complete disappointment.
