The NC State women’s soccer team traveled to the west coast this past weekend, defeating Oregon, 4-1, Friday and Portland, 1-0, Saturday to open its 2017-18 season.
With the two weekend victories, the Pack got out to a 2-0-0 start on the new season.
In the opening game against Oregon in Eugene, the Wolfpack struck early and never looked back. Aided by goals from four different scorers, the Pack used a versatile attack to overwhelm the Ducks for the 4-1 victory.
Sophomore Paige Griffiths kicked off the scoring in the seventh minute by connecting on a goal after a scramble in the box. Fellow sophomore Krissi Schuster, assisted by sophomore Tziarra King, launched a shot in the 26th minute past the Oregon goalkeeper to extend the Wolfpack lead to 2-0.
After holding the Ducks scoreless for another 35 minutes, NC State picked up its third goal in the 61st minute, this time from another sophomore, Ricarda Walkling, assisted again by King.
The Ducks got on the scoreboard for the first time in the 67th minute with a goal from Brianne Parsons, cutting the Pack lead to 3-1. However, the Wolfpack put one more goal on the board in the 85th minute, thanks to junior Maxine Blackwood, who was assisted by freshman Naomi Powell.
Coming off a strong 2016-17 season, junior goalkeeper Sydney Wootten had two saves in the match and the Pack defense was able to stifle 10 Oregon shots overall. Furthermore, the Ducks recorded 10 corner kicks, but the NC State defense was able to control all of them.
In the second game of the weekend, the Wolfpack defeated Portland, thanks to a second-half goal by King on a fast break in the 50th minute to give the Pack the game’s lone goal.
The score would hold as the Wolfpack improved to 2-0-0 on the season. King, not missing a beat after a stellar 2016-17 campaign, recorded one goal and two assists over the course of the weekend.
NC State outshot the Pilots by a significant 17-3 margin and held possession for much of the match. The Pack also outpaced Portland in the corner kick department, 7-1.
Despite winning by just one goal, it was a strong showing from NC State, who will look to build on a breakout 2016-17 campaign in which it qualified for the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
The Wolfpack will take on Coastal Carolina in its home opener Thursday at 7 p.m. at Dail Soccer Field in Raleigh.
