NC State women’s soccer is off to a strong start in 2018, beating Navy 2-1 in the Wolfpack’s first match of the season.
The Midshipmen (1-1), who went 16-4-1 (8-0-1 Patriot League) in 2017 were a tough opening match for NC State, but the Wolfpack (1-0) was up to the task.
Navy got the scoring started in the 34th minute when defenseman Kayla Robinson deflected a shot into the net, putting the Midshipmen up 1-0 in front of their home crowd. Neither team scored again in the first half, and the teams entered the locker room with Navy up 1-0.
The Wolfpack responded in the 69th minute when a cross from superstar senior midfielder Taylor Porter found junior midfielder Tziarra King, who put the ball past Navy’s goalie to knot the game up at 1-1.
King struck again in the 73rd minute with the game-winner off of an assist from freshman midfielder Madison Kline to put the Wolfpack up 2-1, where the score would stay for the remainder of the game.
NC State finished with 13 shots (five on goal) to Navy’s three shots, only one of which was on goal.
Aside from Navy’s lone goal, NC State senior goalkeeper Sydney Wootten wasn’t tested the entire time, not having to make a single save for the entirety of the match.
Coming off of an excellent 2017 season that saw the Pack go 15-5-2 (6-3-1 ACC) and make it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the Wolfpack is looking to build upon its success.
A heartbreaking loss to Princeton in kicks from the mark to end the Wolfpack’s season in front of its home fans in Cary should be all the motivation the Pack needs for a successful 2018 season.
The Pack returns its five leading point scorers from 2017 in King (40 points), senior forward Maxine Blackwood (13 points), Kia Rankin (12 points), junior midfielder Ricci Walkling (12 points) and senior defender Hannah Keogh (10 points).
NC State also returns its starting goalkeeper, Wootten, who conceded only 17 goals in 19 games last year, and two of its best defenders in sophomore Lulu Guttenberger and junior Krissi Schuster.
The experienced Wolfpack team retains 82 percent of its minutes played from 2017 and 36 of its 40 goals scored. The veteran squad is well-positioned to make another NCAA Tournament run.
With an upperclassmen-laden squad (12 juniors and seniors combined) with NCAA postseason experience, a second-round appearance in the 2017 NCAA Tournament could prove to be just the beginning for the Wolfpack.
