Stephen Bateman
What started well didn’t end well for N.C. State on Sunday in Tallahassee, Fla. The Wolfpack jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when junior forward Lindsay Vera scored her team-leading sixth goal in the first two minutes of play.
State, however, was unable to capitalize on the goal and failed to upset the 14th-ranked Seminoles on Florida State’s home field.
Senior midfielder Jessica O’Rourke found Vera ready to strike with a pass and Vera converted, blistering a shot in the upper-left corner for the goal 1:27 into the game.
Coach Laura Kerrigan said she was happy with the way her team began the game, especially as a visiting team in ACC competition.
“I think we really came out playing well,” Kerrigan said. “We were moving the ball nicely, had a great goal and possessed the ball well in the beginning of the first half.”
O’Rourke nearly vaulted the Pack to a 2-0 lead just minutes later on a nice header, but Florida State keeper Erin McNulty was up to the task, coming up with the save for the Seminoles.
State continued to play well throughout the better part of the half, Kerrigan said, but Florida State finally shifted the momentum with two quick goals nearing the end of the period. It was at this point, with the equalizer coming in the 37th minute, Kerrigan said the tide of the game shifted.
“They got the momentum when they scored the tying goal in the 37th minute. They started to get a few more shots, and possess the ball with more efficiency than we did,” Kerrigan said.
Pack goalkeeper Sydney Little and FSU keeper McNulty both had four saves on the day. The difference was the amount of scoring opportunities and conversions the Seminoles had. FSU managed nine more shots than State, including a 10-4 advantage in the first half.
“We obviously need to tighten up a little on defense,” Kerrigan said. “The other team was able to possess the ball with a little more efficiency, while getting too many shots as well.”
The Pack, according to Kerrigan, will have to improve on capitalizing on opportunities if the team is to reverse its recent slide in ACC competition. She said missed opportunities plagued the Pack on Sunday as well as in the team’s loss against Miami on Thursday.
“We need to focus on playing our game and especially on finishing and scoring when we have the chance. That has really hurt us in the last few games,” Kerrigan said.
The loss, the team’s second in a row, dropped the Pack to 5-3-2 on the year, but more importantly 0-2 in the ACC. The team will look to break into the win column in the ACC when it takes on triangle-rival Duke on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Raleigh. The game is the first of a four-game home stand versus ACC opponents.