Six games into the season, the NC State women’s soccer team stands at two wins and four losses, but the record on paper does not tell the whole story.
Three of the Pack’s four losses have come by just one goal, and the side’s quality of play has largely been strong, bolstered by a highly-rated crop of young players that, while lacking in experience, have no shortage of hunger and ability.
Case in point, freshman midfielder Annah Lindberg scored a brace in her first game with the Pack, a 2-1 victory over the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks. Lindberg’s just one of a host of freshmen players getting big minutes under head coach Tim Santoro.
Paired with this new freshman class is the returning dynamic duo, sophomore forward Jackie Stengel and junior forward Brittany Stanko. The pair directed the Pack’s offense last season and continued their dominance into the first part of the season. Their leadership’s key for the Pack going forward, specifically mentoring young attacker, freshman forward Kayla Saager.
Saager showed her offensive potential in the first few games of the season, scoring three times in her first six games and proving that she has a natural ability for finding the back of the net. Saager’s run-and-gun style complements junior forward Caroline Gentry, as Gentry has a knack for finding a way to connect with balls in the air.
State’s offense is not the only part of the field in which newcomers are making a huge splash. One particular stand out on this Wolfpack team is freshman defender-turned-midfielder Franziska Jaser.
Although starting the season at center back, the German U-20 National Team member was quickly moved into the midfield. Her calm demeanor, on-the-ball IQ and visual awareness of the field massively improve the Pack’s ball movement.
Jaser’s cool play complements the other midfielders around her, such as senior midfielder Jessica Baity’s fast and aggressive style. It also allows junior midfielder Jenna Kalwa to push wide and drive down the sideline, putting even more pressure on the opposing back line. Having Jaser sit behind Lindberg allows her to help back on defense, and she has shown multiple times that she can defend from the midfield with tremendous acumen.
The Pack has struggled with injuries early on, however, as the offensive unit’s suffered three missing players. Stengel, the team’s best player last season, recently suffered a knee injury, and sophomore forward Alexa Allen’s ankle injury has kept her sidelined the past few games.
”She’s one of our best attacking players,” head coach Tim Santoro said about Allen.
Stengel is out for a minimum of a couple weeks while Allen is tentatively due back Thursday. Having these key pieces back in the rotation, along with Saager, Stanko and Lindberg will massively improve the Pack’s goal scoring, which has struggled for quantity in the tough contests away from home this season.
Apart from a 6-0 loss to highly ranked Georgetown, State’s defense has performed well, specifically sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Stelljes. Throughout these opening games, she has come up with key saves in critical points in the game where goals could have changed the match.
Junior defenders Dayna Tomayko and Michelle Oestreich have also logged considerable minutes. This pair’s experience combined with the youth of freshmen Mackenzie Graybill and Cailyn Boch and the consistency of Stelljes has led to a back line that will only improve as the season continues.
As the season progresses and the team moves forward, and begins to develop together, expect good things from this young Pack team.
State takes on Western Carolina at the Dail Soccer Stadium on Thursday at 7 p.m.
