NC State women’s soccer celebrated its 2024 senior night on Sunday, honoring four Wolfpack seniors moments before its bout with ECU in just its second game of the season.
The Pack hoped to secure its first victory of the year after opening its 2024 campaign with a draw against App State. Instead, the Pirates plundered the Pack’s senior night, swabbing the deck with its in-state rivals in a 1-0 result at Dail Soccer Stadium in Raleigh.
Both offensively and defensively, ECU (1-0-0) dominated in the first half, scoring the only goal of the contest in the 38th minute. Despite NC State’s (0-1-1) improved second half performance that saw a burst of quality chances halfway through the period, the Wolfpack still wasn’t able to find its first goal of the season.
Before kickoff, head coach Tim Santoro and his team celebrated senior night, honoring senior defender Fernanda Soto, senior midfielder Annika Wohner, senior defender Brianna Weber and senior midfielder Eliza Rich.
Soto, Weber and Wohner have all seen significant play time while wearing the red and white, earning their status as three of the team’s most impactful, fully fledged veterans with their contributions over the past three seasons under Santoro. While the group of seniors’ night didn’t go the way they planned, they were greeted with a loud ovation from the crowd at Dail Soccer Stadium during the ceremony.
After failing to score in its 0-0 draw against the Mountaineers on Thursday, NC State was in a desperate search for its now-elusive first goal. Instead, the home side surrendered its first goal after shutting out App State in the season opener.
Despite some chances created by corner kicks and a near-miss from Soto, NC State struggled to connect the dots offensively in the first half. Meanwhile, ECU was able to force pressure, outshooting the Wolfpack 10-4 after the first 45 minutes.
While the Pirates only fired two shots on target, that was all the visitors needed to get on the board. After earning a free kick in the Pack’s defending third, ECU sent a perfectly placed cross right to the Pirates’ Abby Sowa, who launched a point-blank header at NC State junior goalkeeper Olivia Pratapas.
Pratapas’ quick reflexes were enough to save Sowa’s first shot, but not her second. Sowa’s header ricocheted off Pratapas and right back to the Pirate, who smashed her second attempt into the left side of the net for first blood on senior night.
In the second half, NC State was able to shut down ECU more efficiently on the defensive side, holding the Pirates to only one shot. This worked in favor of the Wolfpack as it was presented with more opportunities to net the equalizer — NC State had five shots on goal in the second half but, despite the side’s determined efforts, none went through the net.
NC State did find a burst of offensive momentum generated from several of its best attackers, though, one of which was graduate midfielder Abi Hugh. The Marshall transfer nearly struck for a goal and delivered an expertly placed cross into the box while playing on the left wing. Still, despite Hugh’s intense efforts and determination, NC State kept coming up empty.
One of the Pack’s chances came from sophomore forward Hannah Jibril. After the Wolfpack gained possession of the ball in Pirate territory, Jibril was in prime position to receive a breakaway pass and score, but as soon as she received the ball, she was called for offsides.
The last opportunity came by way of sophomore forward Jade Bordeleau, who fired NC State’s most promising shot of the night. However, her attempt rattled off the post, forcing another frustrated exhale from the crowd at Dail.
By the time the final horn sounded, the Pirates had hung on for a 1-0 season-opening win in Raleigh. NC State fell to 0-1-1 after the intra-state showdown, and will continue to search for its first goal of the season as it sets out on a two-game road trip.
The Wolfpack will make the drive to nearby Buies Creek, North Carolina on Thursday, Aug. 22 to face Campbell in its first road match of the 2024 season. Kickoff against the Camels is set for 7 p.m.
