University of North Carolina Athletics
Previewing NC State
September 14, 2007 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 14, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 4 p.m.
North Carolina (1-1-2) at NC State (3-1-1)
Raleigh, N.C. - Method Road Soccer Stadium
Team Profile: The Wolfpack are coming off a 1-0 win over Georgia Southern. They participated in the Duke Adidas Classic this past weekend with a 1-0 loss to Villanova and a 1-1 tie to No. 24 St. Louis. Prior to that, they picked up wins against Valparaiso and Delaware in the Wolfpack Classic. In an exhibition match to start the season, they played to a 1-1 draw with UCLA, who was ranked No. 1 at the time. State's starting lineup features one freshman, five sophomores, two juniors, and three seniors. Of the 28 players on the roster, 10 are from the Triangle area.
Series History: UNC owns a 45-20-11 all-time record against the Wolfpack. NC State won the last matchup 3-1 in Chapel Hill last year. It was their first victory over Carolina since 1997.
Rankings: NC State is unranked. They received one vote in the latest NSCAA/adidas National Poll.
Coach: George Tarantini is in his 21st year coaching the Wolfpack. He owns 199 career victories and will try for his 200th Saturday against the Tar Heels.
Key Players: Three seniors are in the starting lineup for the Wolfpack: defensive captain Hugh Cronin, midfielder Ernesto Di Laudo, and midfielder El Hadj Cisse. A three-year starter at central back, Cronin was named to Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week early in September. He is the only returning defender from last year's team. Cisse leads the team in shots with 18 and is tied for the team-lead in goals with one. Four others have scored a goal on the year. Sophomore midfielders Alan Sanchez and Jorge Mora both scored goals in last season's win over the Tar Heels. Sanchez led the team in goals with eight last year. Redshirt-sophomore Christopher Widman will be in goal for the Pack. He owns a 0.57 goals-against average on the year.
