The NC State women’s soccer team returns to Raleigh having narrowly lost both its first matches of the season, against San Diego and No. 10 Pepperdine over the weekend.
After suffering an ACL injury a year ago, redshirt sophomore Jackie Stengel made her first appearance and gave the Wolfpack (0-2-0) a 1-0 lead against San Diego (1-1-0) on Friday, but the team gave up two heartbreaking goals to drop the season opener 2-1.
On Sunday, NC State (0-2-0) battled a top-10 program in Pepperdine (2-0-0) into overtime and nearly scored a winner, but the Waves eventually triumphed 1-0.
“I’m proud of the girls,” said head coach Tim Santoro after Sunday’s match.“To go through what we went through with our travel day coming out on Thursday and to play two games against two top programs as tight as we did, and we probably deserved at least one result and maybe could’ve grinded out a couple…I’m proud of them. The next step we have to take is winning games and that’s the hardest step to take.”
The Wolfpack made the cross country trip to San Diego for the Torero Classic last week, but the team saw travel plans thrown off on Thursday, and the group had limited time to acclimate and prepare for its first match on Friday.
Despite that limited time, the Pack came out on fire. Four freshmen started the match, with defender Ella Bonner, left back Hannah Keogh, midfielder Taylor Porter and forward Maxine Blackwood all getting the nod from Santoro. Additionally, freshman Crystal Cordova and senior Shannon Cleaver, who has struggled with injuries her whole career, made their NC State debuts.
The big news, however, was the return of Stengel. In her first season with the Pack, she finished as the team’s leading scorer (9) and was named to both the All-ACC third team and All-ACC freshmen team.
Her goal just before halftime saw her hold off multiple defenders before shooting low past the keeper, and her return is a big boost for a team that struggled in front of goal last season and lost 2014’s leading scorer, Kayla Saager, who transferred.
Against Pepperdine on Sunday, freshman goalkeeper Sydney Wootten made her debut and started the match. She made seven saves before suffering a collision in the 86th minute and getting subbed off.
“Syd was outstanding,” Santoro said. “All the freshmen were outstanding. It’s a good group and they add a lot to our team.”
Despite not making it through the entire match, Wootten, a San Diego native, was upbeat about her first regular season collegiate match.
“I did have a lot of action today,” said Wootten to NC State athletics. “But it was nice. It’s better having a bunch of action than no action at all. I had a really good time playing out there and I’m really excited to get the season rolling. I’m confident about it.”
Sophomore defensive midfielder Cailyn Boch nearly scored the winner for the Pack against the 10th seeded Waves just before the end of regular time, but the referee ruled her headed attempt did not cross the line.
Although the Pack would lose the match in overtime, Santoro felt the team showed a spirit that it had lacked in previous seasons.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a team have true fight against good teams,” said Santoro to his team at the conclusion of Sunday’s game. “The hardest part of becoming a top program is winning. It’s the hardest thing. It’s the hardest thing to do. The only way you learn how to win is by winning. But we have a competitive fight that we’ve never had before.
“We’re a better team than we were 48 hours ago. I can promise you that. So don’t be satisfied, but I am very proud.”
NC State faces Elon at home this Thursday and will look to get its first win of the season.
