Wolfpack strengthens roster with new additions

The NC State women’s soccer team is a long way from the start of the 2017 season, which will begin sometime in early August, but the quest to outdo last year’s breakout season has been underway for quite a while already. The Wolfpack signed seven players in the class of 2021, two of which are already on campus, and a new associate head coach.

In 2016, head coach Tim Santoro’s first group of recruits, those from the class of 2020, took the field. In collegiate soccer, a coach will usually recruit three years out, and Santoro took the coaching reigns at NC State at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

Last year’s freshmen were huge contributors to a team that finished with 11 wins, its most in a season since 1996, and it qualified for the ACC Tournament for the first time since 2006. The Wolfpack accumulated four conference wins, and most impressively, reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament, a feat not accomplished by the Pack since 1996.

Santoro chose to keep eight different freshmen on heavy rotation in 2016, five of whom saw action in all 22 games.

In early January, the Wolfpack took the next steps toward strengthening its program when it signed freshmen Lexi Moore and Naomi Powell as early enrollees, meaning that they are eligible to immediately train with the team.

Moore, a defender/midfielder from Jacksonville, North Carolina, played club soccer for Pitt-Greenville Soccer Association and varsity soccer for Jacksonville High School. In 54 games through three seasons, she scored 24 goals and added 14 assists.

Naomi Powell, another North Carolina native, is a midfielder from Charlotte, where she played club for the Carolina Rapids. She recently led her club team to the U.S. Youth Soccer 19/20-and-Under Red Division title and has spent time on the Olympic Development Program (ODP) national team.

Santoro is confident that the early enrollment will help prepare both players to immediately contribute to the team this fall.

In February, the Pack announced that it had signed five new recruits to the class of 2021. Two recruits are from Virginia: goalkeeper Jessica Berlin and midfielder/defender Mikhail Johnson. One is from California, defender Hope McQueen, one is from Colorado, forward Tea Smith and one is from Germany, defender Luisa Guttenberger.

“After a few larger recruiting classes the last few years, we’re able to get back on track with filling specific needs in certain positions and building our depth,” Santoro told NC State Athletics. “This group, along with Lexi and Naomi, has versatility and quality and covers every line in the team.”

Santoro has recruited many players from California, Virginia and Germany and has done so with great success. Junior goalie Sydney Wootten, junior Ella Bonner, sophomore Michaella van Maanen and sophomore Kristina Schuster, to name just a few, are from those areas and have contributed greatly to the program.

In addition to the new signees, NC State added Glen Tourville as its new associate head coach. Tourville is a decorated coach that has experience working with youth, ODP, college and professional players. As an associate head coach and assistant coach for Ohio State from 2008 to 2014, Tourville reached five straight NCAA tournaments and made an appearance in the College Cup.

“Glen and I have known each other for almost 15 years and have always tried to unite on the same staff,” Santoro told NC State Athletics. “I’m glad the opportunity to work together is finally here.”

NC State will lose only two members from last year’s squad, seniors Rachel Cox and Gladys Loyas. Both players saw significant minutes and will be difficult to replace, but with the current freshmen expected to take on larger roles and with the caliber of the incoming freshmen, Santoro shouldn’t have too much trouble filling the gaps.

With new players, a new coach and a brand new year, the Wolfpack women’s soccer team is likely to do some serious damage in the loaded ACC in 2017.