With the exception of both opponents being shut out in their respective matches, the game Sunday against Elon was a complete turnaround from two days before against Wyoming.
N.C. State (3-0-1) and Wyoming (1-2-1) had to weather the cold and damp conditions Friday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto moved through the state. The game was held at SAS Soccer Stadium and played out to a 0-0 tie.
The stage for Sunday took place in Method Road Soccer Stadium under clear skies and the heat of 85-degree weather, and featured much more scoring as the Wolfpack defeated the Phoenix (1-3-0) 4-0.
It was a scoring assault, as the four goals against the Phoenix matched the previous three-game total. State continually peppered the net, outshooting Elon 34-1.
“In the first half we got some really good-quality opportunities to score, we didn’t put them away as well though,” coach Laura Kerrigan said. “At halftime we talked about ‘OK we’re creating the quality chances, now let’s get on the end of them.'”
Three of the goals came after halftime, as the Pack fired 18 shots in the second half alone. Sophomore midfielder Tami Krzeszewski scored once — sending in a cross from freshman forward Gia Cipollini. Krzeszewski also notched an assist.
“It’s finally clicking, the defense did a really good job holding the ball. They were really patient and found the forwards and we connected and finally finished,” Krzeszewski said.
Benefiting from Krzeszewski’s assist was midfielder Carol Tognetti, who scored twice for the Pack. Tognetti, a senior from Katy, Texas, had been limited in previous games due to a quad injury.
After her winding shot into the bottom right corner of the net put the team up 1-0, she scored unassisted from 30 yards out 52 minutes into the game to raise the lead to 3-0.
“This game it just felt right. I just felt a lot more confident [in taking shots],” Tognetti said. “I’m back to 100 percent now and excited for the rest of this season.”
Also scoring was freshman forward Chantelle Dugas 83 minutes in, with the assist from freshman forward Brianna Cunningham. It was the first goal in the freshman’s career.
Senior goalie Megan Connors was credited with shutouts number three and four for her efforts. It is the first time since 1992 that State has started the season with four consecutive shutouts.
Kerrigan said not only Connors, but the entire team should be credited for blanking Elon and limiting the team to just one shot for the entire game.
“It’s team defending in the game of soccer, it starts from the front line, works through the midfield, into the back line,” Kerrigan said. “Megan Connors came up huge for us last weekend . . . She wasn’t challenged as much this weekend which is a good thing. It meant our defense was a bit more solid.”
