Led by a hat trick from redshirt junior forward Maxine Blackwood, the No. 23 NC State women’s soccer team defeated Syracuse 6-3 on Thursday night in Syracuse, New York.

The Wolfpack (9-3-2, 2-2-1 ACC) gave up a quick goal less than three minutes into the game to the Orange (3-10-0, 0-5-0) but rebounded to take a 2-1 lead that eventually became 5-1 before the Orange scored two late goals.

Blackwood opened the scoring up for the Wolfpack at 9:15 in the first half with her first goal of the season. Five minutes later, junior midfielder Tziarra King gave the Wolfpack the lead for good with her eighth goal of the season

That 2-1 lead held up through halftime before Blackwood scored her second of the night in the 47th minute. Junior forward Kia Rankin scored her fourth goal of the year, good for second on the team, just over a minute later. Blackwood completed the hat trick in the 60th minute giving the Pack a 5-1 lead.

The Orange pulled within three in the 65th minute before freshman midfielder Kursten von Klahr recorded her first career goal to put the Pack back up by four less than a minute later.

Syracuse finished the scoring with a goal with fifteen minutes left in the match to bring the final score to 6-3.

Despite allowing three goals, Wolfpack senior goalie Sydney Wootten did make four saves.

King and junior midfielder Ricci Walkling were credited with two assists each. Freshman defender Mia Thillet and Rankin totaled an assist apiece.

The Pack returns to action Sunday for the third leg of a four game road trip against No. 11 Boston College on Sunday at 1 p.m.