The N.C. State women’s soccer team bounced back from a tough loss to No. 8 Notre Dame in its season opener by going on the road and registering a 1-0 win over new ACC member Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. 

Freshman forward Jackie Stengel scored with less than a minute to play to give the Wolfpack its first conference victory of the season.

After about 90 minutes of scoreless play and with both teams seeming primed for overtime, Stengel buried a shot from 20 yards out off of an assist from Meagan Proper. 

It was the sixth goal of the season for the freshman from Melbourne, Fla., as well as her third game-winning goal of the year. 

Stengel also scored game-winning goals in the season’s first two contests against Navy and Longwood. She finished the night with five shots, three of them on goal.

“It was a win we deserved,” head coach Tim Santoro said.

The Pack’s strength during Sunday’s game was its defense. State limited the Panthers to just eight total shots, two of those being shots on goal. 

Freshman goalkeeper Mackenzie Stelljes saved both of Pitt’s shots on goal for her third shutout of the season.

Meanwhile, the Wolfpack totaled 14 shots, six on goal. Pitt goalie Nicole D’Agostino saved five of those, with the sixth being Stengel’s goal.

State also recorded six corner kicks on the afternoon compared to just three for the Panthers. Three of the Pack’s six corners came in the early stages of the game, setting the tone for a Wolfpack attack that pressured Pittsburgh all game.

“It was a game we thought we could win,” Santoro said. “The girls did a good job with their preparation and we played well.”

In contrast to its previous games, State went deeper into its bench on Sunday. Against Notre Dame on Thursday, the Wolfpack used only one substitute throughout the entire game. In Sunday’s game, head coach Tim Santoro used five of his reserves.

“It was the second game of a weekend,” Santoro said. “In that second game, especially after the travel, you’re going to have to go a little deeper, and we were able to get some of our freshman into the game. They did a good job”

State’s record improves to 6-2 on the season and 1-1 in the ACC after the win against Pitt. Pitt drops to 4-3-1 and 0-2 in conference play. 

It was the Pack’s first conference victory since a 2-1 overtime win against Clemson on Oct. 20, 2011 in Raleigh. 

It was also the first road ACC victory for the Wolfpack since Sept. 23, 2010, which coincidentally also came against Clemson.

The Wolfpack will hit the road again on Thursday for an ACC clash with Miami. Kickoff in Coral Gables, Fla., is set for 7 p.m.