Randy Barlow
Despite playing without the leadership of coach George Tarantini, the men’s soccer team reached deep into its offensive bag of tricks to earn a treat in the form of a 4-0 win over Gardner Webb (3-14-1) on Wednesday.
In accordance with NCAA rules, Tarantini was forced to sit out the game after receiving a red card at Maryland in N.C. State’s previous contest.
The Wolfpack’s play in the victory against the Bulldogs was a far cry from its previous 5-0 defeat against the Terrapins, according to senior defender Hugh Cronin. He said Tarantini rallied the team in practice after the deflating shutout.
“It was a game we knew we had to win, so he got us ready before hand,” Cronin said. “Usually [his presence] is an inspiration, but we were still focused to get the job done.”
State (6-6-3), under the direction of assistant coach Dan Popik, made several adjustments early in the first half to create an offensive presence, which quickly led to two first-half goals.
The turning point came at the 65:13 mark, when Cronin made a defensive play to give sophomore Alan Sanchez the ball at midfield. Sanchez then broke away down the sideline, surrounded by two teammates and only one GW defender. He then passed the ball to freshman Adam Williams, who assisted senior El Hadj Cisse for the wide-open goal.
“Communication was the key,” Cisse said. “We did it at practice, playing 1-2 and running off the ball. We [executed] it, and I just took a shot.”
After the Pack picked up its third goal, the team played “prevent defense” by keeping three defenders in the backfield for the remainder of the contest. Yet Cisse still managed to find the net one last time, for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
Forwards Sanchez and Cisse dominated on the offensive side of the ball, combining for 13 of State’s 17 shots. Popik said the shutout at Maryland served as motivation for the pair.
“Those guys realize that if this team is going to go anywhere and win, it’s going to fall on their shoulders,” Popik said. “They have to put the ball in the back of the net. Today they had opportunities to do it, and they put them in there.”
Although State was able to earn a victory against the struggling Bulldogs, Popik said the offense didn’t capitalize on all its opportunities to find the net.
“They could have scored some others,” he said. “They have to do a better job of creating opportunities for themselves, and when they do create them, finish them.”
With the season coming to a close, Popik said the team needs to build upon the positive aspects of its performance and correct the negatives. But with a game at No. 5 Virginia Tech looming on Saturday, State doesn’t have a lot of time to improve upon its 1-4-1 ACC record.
“There’s no magical formula that’s going to change things in two days,” Popik said. “Obviously, this is not an ACC team. ACC teams will be better than this team. But it was good to get this game in and get that 5-0 out of our system.”
Sights & SoundsMissing ArgentinesCoach George Tarantini and starting senior midfielder Ernesto Di Laudo were absent in the contest against Gardner-Webb due to cards they received in the previous game against Maryland, two yellows for Tarantini and the fifth yellow of the season for Di Laudo.
Sumos square offTwo sumo wrestlers — Brooke Brown of the dance team and Chris Sutton of the wrestling team — staged an epic battle during halftime. Although neither found the goal, the antics delighted the sparse crowd gathered at Method Road on Halloween.-Emily Seck
By the numbers0 goals scored by Gardner-Webb1 ACC win for N.C. State2 assists for junior Clint Pires6 shots fired by the Bulldogs9 fouls by GW16 Wolfpack fouls17 shots taken by State-Compiled by Emily Seck