The No. 21 NC State women’s soccer team came up short against the No. 15 University of South Carolina Gamecocks in its season opener, losing the match 2-1.
Despite a strong effort and early lead in the opening half, the Wolfpack wasn’t able to find the back of the net or keep the Gamecocks off the board in the second.
NC State senior defender Krissi Schuster scored the first and only Wolfpack goal 20:32 into the first half with an assist from senior Paige Griffiths. Griffiths dribbled the ball down the left side of the field towards the corner before passing it back to Schuster, who worked past two defenders and took a shot from inside the box past another defender and goalkeeper to put the Pack up 1-0.
In the final minutes of the first half, Wolfpack junior goalkeeper Jessica Berlin came up with an impressive athletic save, stretching out full length, to barely deny a Gamecock free kick from outside the box. Berlin put together a strong showcase for her college debut making three additional saves in the first half as well.
The Gamecocks struck early in the second half, equalizing the match in the 49th minute. Gamecock captain Tatumn Milazzo finished off a corner feed with a header to put South Carolina on the board. The Gamecocks took the lead less than four minutes later after a powerful shot by Elexa Bahr found the back of the net.
The Gamecocks held onto the lead through the remainder of the second half, closing out the match with a 2-1 victory over NC State.
Despite the score, the Wolfpack seemed to be only hanging on against the Gamecocks in the first half after its first goal. The Pack was outshot 8-3 in the opening 45 minutes and gave up four corner kicks to the Gamecocks.
The Wolfpack statistically generated more chances in the second half, shooting six of its nine shots along with three corner kick opportunities, but was unable to find success within that.
The Pack has a difficult opening schedule, its next match being on the road against No. 7 Georgetown at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25, and it will have to prove that it can compete with top competition.
Sophomore midfielder Paige Griffiths kicks the ball to a teammate downfield in Dail Soccer Stadium at the N.C. State vs. Notre Dame women's soccer ACC quarter final on Sunday Oct.29. N.C. State defeated the visitors from Notre Dame with a final score of 4-1.
