By Billy McGee – @iambillymcgee
The North Carolina State Wolfpack and the UNC Greensboro Spartans will play in what is the lone Carolina Cup match this weekend.
The two sides faced off twice during the 2025 season, with a 1-1 draw in the regular season that saw 2025 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick Enzo Dovlo score the first goal to take the lead for the Spartans before NC State midfielder Drew Lovelace scored a late penalty goal to tie the game. Their second match against each other had much more on the line, with the two meeting in the Third Round of the NCAA Tournament.
In the postseason game, the Wolfpack took an early lead with a sixth-minute goal from the now Fort Wayne FC midfielder Taig Healy, then added a second in the 79th minute from MAC Hermann Trophy winner Donavan Phillip to advance to the quarterfinals and eventually make it all the way to the final before losing to Washington.
Both teams have played one game so far in the Carolina Cup. NC State defeated South Carolina 2-1 with goals from Caden Tolentino and Riley Maloney, while the Spartans came away with the victory against UNC Wilmington.
Gameday info: at UNC Greensboro, 5 PM ET, March 6
