The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/714462
46 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER N C State sixth-year men's soccer head coach Kelly Findley would qualify as an expert of the college soccer game. Ask him about the benefits of the ACC's switch to divisions last year, for instance, and Findley will describe in great detail how the move restored the conference's standing as the country's best in the RPI rankings. It turned out that playing too many league con- tests actually hurt the ACC's rating. "The year we added in Syracuse, Pitt and Notre Dame, we played everybody because we didn't have time to transition, and our RPI was outside of the top two for the first time in like two decades," Findley explained. "We went to the divisional format and we were back to No. 1." The switch last season to Atlantic and Coastal Divisions limited conference games to eight, and it also had the side effect of pro- viding a tangible goal for teams in a loaded ACC. In 2014, Virginia won the national champi- onship after they finished eighth in the ACC standings during the final year before divi- sions were set up. Had the Cavs faltered in the NCAA Tournament, a great team would have had little to show for it. Adding a division title to the table is a little extra carrot for teams in the stacked ACC. "Let's see if we can give some of the best teams in the country a chance to win some- thing by having divisions," the coach said. Findley, with all of his knowledge of col- lege soccer, also knows that his 2016 Wolf- pack squad has the potential to be one of those teams competing for an Atlantic Divi- sion title. A year ago, NC State nearly broke through with what would have been its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2009. After defeating No. 14 South Carolina at home, the Wolfpack ■ PREVIEW MEN'S SOCCER Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Alex McCauley is entering his third season as the starter. PHOTO BY GREG MINTEL After Narrowly Missing A Postseason Berth In 2015, The Wolfpack Seeks To Break Through MOTIVATED FOR MORE ■ Key Games Vs. Syracuse, Sept. 9 — The Pack only has four non-conference games (counting UNC) before jumping into official ACC action. The Orange is ranked No. 6 in the preseason coaches' poll. Vs. Duke, Sept. 30 — NC State will be looking for some revenge on the Blue Devils. Last year's 6-2 road loss to Duke led a late-season slump that potentially cost the Pack a NCAA Tournament bid. Vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 15 — Although it is not the last home game, this will serve as Senior Day for NC State.