Coming off a victory at Navy on Friday, the N.C. State Wolfpack (2-0) opened its 2013 home schedule with a 3-2 win over Longwood. The Wolfpack, which gave up the lead twice, got a late winner from freshman midfielder Jackie Stengel to break the deadlock.
First-year head coach Tim Santoro was pleased with the sizable crowd that came to watch the Pack’s home opener.
“The atmosphere was great,” Santoro said. “We got a lot of good support tonight.”
The game started slowly; both sides went into halftime tied at zero. Each team had six shots in the first 45 minutes, but both goalkeepers were equal to the task. N.C. State’s freshman goalkeeper Karly Gustafson tallied five saves on the evening.
All the fireworks took place in the second half. Junior midfielder Jessica Baity put the Wolfpack on the board in the 64th minute off an assist from junior defender Kasey Koballa. Koballa passed to the top of the box and Baity did the rest to give the Pack a 1-0 lead.
That lead did not last long as the Lancers’ Amanda Spencer evened the score barely six minutes later with an assist by Gina D’Orazio. The score remained tied until the 79th minute when State drew a foul on Longwood inside the box. The resulting penalty kick by junior defender Shelli Spamer put the Wolfpack in front 2-1.
But the Lancers would not go away. Spencer wasted little time in answering Spamer’s goal, this time taking matters into her own hands with an individual effort.
Spencer took the ball off a fortunate bounce and shot from the top of the box, finding the back of the net as the ball deflected off of a State defender. Spencer, who came off the bench for Longwood, led her team with three shots on goal.
With time winding down and the game seemingly destined for extra time, State’s junior forward Jennie Krauser took the ball down the right flank and crossed it into the box.
Stengel, who also scored in Friday’s win over Navy, out-jumped the Longwood defense and headed past Hall with 44 seconds remaining, effectively sealing the outcome.
“It was just a cross from right midfield,” Stengel said of her goal. “It was a perfect ball, and I just put it in.”
“I was disappointed by our performance tonight,” Santoro said. “I’m happy we won, but we have a lot of things to work on. But two wins to start the season is never bad.”
The Wolfpack return home to face Georgia Southern on Friday night. Kickoff at the Dail Soccer Stadium is at 7 p.m.
