Despite outshooting a struggling Virginia Tech team 17-4, NC State dropped its third consecutive ACC contest with a 2-1 decision Saturday night. The Wolfpack (3-4, 0-3) had not lost to an unranked opponent this season until the Hokies (2-4-1, 1-0-1) came back from a 1-0 deficit to win in Raleigh for the first time since 2006.
After scoring five times in a Wednesday night drubbing of Presbyterian, all State could manage was a 50 yard free kick goal from senior defender Tyler Lassiter in the 33rd minute. His third marker of the season slid through the hands of keeper Kyle Renfro’s hands and into the right corner of the net to give the Pack the advantage.
That lead turned out to be short lived as just two minutes later, Virginia Tech’s Clarke Bentley calmly powered a penalty kick into the upper lefthand corner of the net over Will Mackvick’s outstretched reach. After arriving at halftime knotted up at 1-1, the Hokies used a close range goal from Greg Cochrane in the 63rd minute, giving them a lead they never relinquished. Although Virginia Tech ended up holding onto its 2-1 lead, the Pack had an onslaught of opportunities in the closing stages with 10 of its 17 shots coming in the second half.
“I feel like we could have had them and it could have went either way,” Lassiter said. “It’s pretty frustrating watching missed chances, easy chances, giving up easy goals that we shouldn’t give up. I don’t think we need to change anything, we just need to put away our chances.”
One of the Wolfpack’s best scoring opportunities came off the foot of junior forward Craig Sutherland when he raced down the right wing and fired a shot just wide of the post with 1:25 remaining in the game. The Edinburgh, Scotland native led his team with five shots on the night as he tried to convert his first regular season goal of year.
“We’ve been working hard on our finishing,” Sutherland said. “I felt like we were the better team overall, but sometimes the result doesn’t reflect that. I think we just need to capitalize on our finishing.”
For long time head coach George Tarantini, not recording a win in his team’s first three ACC matches for the fourth consecutive season is an obvious disappointment. However, he said he still fully believes in his squad as it moves onto play Appalachian State (3-2-2) Tuesday night to close out the three-game home stand.
“I believe in this team,” Tarantini said. “We need to get ready for the next game and we need to score. We’ll work tomorrow again, watch the film, and do everything we can. It’s a long season to go, and it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”
After the Wolfpack faces off against the Mountaineers, State will visit Chesnut Hill, Mass. for an ACC battle against the Boston College Eagles. The next home game from Dail Soccer Stadium will be when Georgia Southern visits Raleigh on Tuesday, October 5th.
