The No. 21 NC State women’s soccer team dispatched Arkansas 4-1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday at Dail Stadium behind two goals by sophomore midfielder Tziarra King.
The Wolfpack (15-5-1) advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row while Arkansas (11-11-2) saw its season end after advancing to the SEC Tournament final last week and earning an at-large bid to the NCAAs.
“I’m probably being too harsh, but we were a little sloppier than I’d like to be,” head coach Tim Santoro said. “I guess it’s the sign of a good team to not be pleased and to win 4-1 against the team that just lost in the SEC final.”
The Wolfpack got the scoring going early on. Just as she’s done all season, King received a pass inside the Arkansas box from junior forward Maxine Blackwood, made the most of the opportunity and shot it past Razorbacks keeper Jordan Harris in the sixth minute.
King doubled the Pack lead in the 50th minute, as she dribbled past several Arkansas defenders and shot it from just inside the 18-yard box past a diving Harris to put the Wolfpack up 2-0. The goal was King’s 16th on the year, increasing her point total to 38. Junior defender Hannah Keogh and Blackwood were credited with assists. The assist was Keogh’s ninth of the year, top on the Wolfpack team.
“[King]’s a special, individual player,” Santoro said. “She plays well within the team concept, but she can do some stuff individually and create off the dribble, and that’s pretty special.”
NC State did not let off the gas, scoring again in the 63rd minute. This time, it was sophomore midfielder Paige Griffiths, who was the recipient of another Keogh pass. Griffiths got the ball at the six-yard box, shooting it to the right side and past Harris. The goal was Griffiths’ third of the season and put the Pack up 3-0. Keogh’s assist gave her 10 for the year.
The Wolfpack’s last goal came by way of sophomore forward Kia Rankin in the 78th minute. After getting the ball from freshman midfielder Mikhail Johnson, Rankin dribbled around an Arkansas defender on the right side, shooting it across the net. The ball hit the crossbar and bounced into the Arkansas goal, putting State up 4-0 and giving Rankin her fifth goal of the year.
Arkansas picked up a goal in the 81st minute as the game winded down. The Razorbacks’ Stefani Doyle shot from the left side as it was deflected and sent over the head of junior goalkeeper Sydney Wootten. The Razorbacks’ lone goal of the match cut the lead ot 4-1, but was ultimately the only offense Arkansas could muster.
The Wolfpack ran out the last 10 minutes, holding onto its 4-1 lead.
“I think we could have done better,” Rankin said. “But good teams find ways to win.”
Freshman defender Lulu Guttenberger turned in a strong performance, thwarting several Arkansas scoring opportunities. Guttenberger was ranked No. 31 in Top Drawer Soccer’s Top-100 Freshmen List.
“I thought Lulu was our best player today,” Santoro said. “She’s been as good as any center back I’ve seen all year… she really stabilizes the back line and is a big part of what we do back there.”
The Wolfpack will take on No. 4 seed Princeton in the second round in Cary, North Carolina. The Tigers topped Monmouth 4-0 to advance. NC State dropped a match to the Tigers earlier in the year, falling 2-0 back in September in Raleigh.
“It’s weird to get a team again that you lost to,” Santoro said. “It’ll be a battle Friday, but one we’ll be looking forward to trying to revenge.”
The match against Princeton will take place at WakeMed Soccer park Friday, Nov. 17., with the winner advancing to the quarterfinal.
