Photo by: John Joyner
Sophomore forward Caroline Gentry takes a shot during the soccer match against Georgetown at Dail Soccer Field Wednesday Sept. 4, 2013. The Wolfpack fell to the Hoyas 2-0, their first loss of the season.
The N.C. State women’s soccer team faced its toughest opponent so far this young season in No. 13 Georgetown on Wednesday night. The Pack fell to the visiting Hoyas 2-0, conceding a pair of second-half goals. The loss drops State to 4-1 on the season.
Both teams attacked throughout the first half to no avail. Both teams had a quiet opening 15 minutes as they got the feel for one another. The Pack narrowly missed taking the lead midway through the first half when sophomore forward Caroline Gentry’s shot from the top of the box rolled just wide of the net.
The Hoyas nearly broke the ice minutes later as Audra Ayotte dribbled around State’s defenders and put a shot on goal from 15-yards away. Freshman goalkeeper Mackenzie Stelljes, making her third career start, made a nice save as she fell to the ground. The Hoyas once again threatened the pack in the 30th minute, but Sarah Adams’ shot hit the top of the crossbar and bounced away.
“I’m not satisfied, but I was very proud with how our team worked tonight.” Gentry said.
The chances continued as junior defender Shelli Spamer nearly scored off a corner kick, but she was denied by Hoya keeper Emma Newins. That was the first of five consecutive corner kicks for the Wolfpack, but the Georgetown defense thwarted each opportunity. Both teams tallied seven shots in the opening half, and each goalie recorded a pair of saves.
“We played them well,” head coach Tim Santoro said. “We could have been ahead at the end of the first half. If we score on one of those chances it’s a different game.”
Georgetown came out with more aggression after halftime. The Hoyas forged ahead in the 60th minute as Ayotte beat Stelljes to give her team a 1-0 lead. It was the first career goal given up by the freshman keeper. Georgetown threatened to double its lead three minutes later, but Stelljes made a sliding save off a shot by a wide open Vanessa Skrumbis.
“We kept up with them and we proved that we can play,” Gentry said. “It just came down to little things we need to perfect.”
The Wolfpack, meanwhile, did not record its first shot of the second half until the 66th minute. Freshman forward Jackie Stengel found herself wide open in front of the goal after Newins mishandled the ball, but the Hoya keeper recovered to make the save. By that time, the Hoyas had already taken six shots in the half. For the game, State totaled 11 shots; seven fewer than its opponent.
“Jackie is the player we want down near the goal,” Santoro said. “She just wasn’t able to find the back of the net.”
The Hoyas doubled their lead to 2-0 as Adams found the back of the net off an assist from Kaitlin Brenn. Their defense, which performed solidly all night, did not give up any goals all night to preserve its undefeated record. It was the second straight game in which Georgetown did not allow a goal.
“We were solid in all phases tonight,” Santoro said. “But when we play a team like this, the smallest things are big.”
The Wolfpack will continue its six-game homestand with a non-conference tilt against UNC-Wilmington on Sunday afternoon. Kickoff at the Dail Soccer Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.