The N.C. State women’s soccer team concluded a successful weekend with a 3-0 victory over East Tennessee State University on Sunday at Dial Soccer Stadium. The win comes on the back of a 4-0 shutout over Georgia Southern on Friday evening.
With its two victories over the weekend, State (4-0) is one win away from matching its total from last season.
After allowing four goals in its opening two contests versus Navy and Longwood, first-year head coach Tim Santoro was pleased with the Wolfpack’s defensive showings against Georgia Southern and East Tennessee State over the weekend.
“It is two shutouts, so you’re always happy with that,” Santoro said. “Defensively, we’re tightening a few things up, which we’re going to have to do with the schedule we have coming up, two top-10 teams in the next three games. We have some things to sharpen up but any time you win two games in three days, you’ll take it.”
It was also the second straight shutout in as many career starts for freshman goalkeeper Mackenzie Stelljes, who saved nine shots in the two contests.
“It’s a good start to the season,” said Stelljes. “It’s nice to get some shutouts early in the season and boost our confidence.”
State took nearly a half-hour to get on the board Sunday versus East Tennessee State. The Pack broke through when junior midfielder Jessica Baity pounced on a loose ball in the box and drilled a shot into the Buccaneers’ net for her second goal of the season.
N.C. State created a two-goal cushion for itself in the 38th minute when sophomore striker Caroline Gentry headed home a cross on a free kick. Gentry, a Raleigh native, has already scored three goals in the current campaign.
Lightning delayed the game on Sunday for over 30 minutes during the halftime intermission.
When play finally resumed, freshman forward Jackie Stengel — who created havoc along the wing all weekend — tallied her fifth goal on the season off a picture-perfect pass from sophomore striker Brittany Stanko in the 51st minute.
Stengel also scored two goals in the Wolfpack’s win over Georgia Southern on Friday.
The Pack earned a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks versus the Buccaneers and Santoro feels that ball possession and improved defense were the reasons State was able to keep two clean sheets over the weekend.
“We were able to dictate the tempo of the games with our possession style,” Santoro said. “We’ve also worked a lot on defending so that when we lose the ball, we are still in to allow good chances. They took a lot of long shots and played a lot of long balls. That was because there was no space in the middle of the field to pass. You have got to be tight in the middle of the field.”
N.C. State returns to action on Wednesday at Dial Soccer Field when the Pack hosts No. 13 Georgetown. Santoro is looking forward to seeing how his squad responds to the challenge.
“We have some girls that have been through the ACC for a couple of years,” Santoro said. “I think they understand what playing big teams means. They are working with some of the younger ones. I think they are anxious to see how we handle it as a staff and I think they want someone good to come to town and give us a test to see how good we are.”
