Wolfpack Drops Close Match to No. 23 Maryland

Friday, October 8

College Park, Md.

7:00 PM

NC State

7-4-2, 1-4-0

Maryland

5-3-2, 2-3-1

NC State

Maryland

10/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Oct. 8, 2004

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - NC State women's soccer fell 2-1 at No.23 Maryland. NC State dropped to 7-4-2, 1-4-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while Maryland improved to 5-3-2, 2-3-1. Freshman Allie Wilkerson scored the Pack's lone goal, but two first half goals from the Terrapins insured a Maryland victory. The Wolfpack's sophomore goalkeeper Megan Connors recorded six saves despite the loss. NC State will play its next match on the road, in Durham for a match against No. 9 Duke on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m.

If the Ludwig Field fans arrived late for the start of Friday's match, they missed NC State score the game's first goal at 1:18. The sophomore Carol Tognetti served a long ball in from nearside midfield to seniors Anna Helenius and Erin Griswold, who were both diving in to receive. Maryland's keeper, junior Nikki Resnick caught the deflection of the Terps' defense on the flank, but deflected to NC State freshman Allie Wilkerson, who tapped it in easily in scuffle. The Wolfpack held Maryland without a shot until the 17th minute by freshman Nataly Arias at the top of the box. The Terrapins continued to put pressure on NC State's defense and finally broke through at 28:16 when junior Mallory Mahar turned inside and one-touched the ball into the left bottom corner for her sixth goal of the season. Arias provided the cross pass in for the tying score. The Terps second goal came off an own goal after a NC State defender headed the ball in as she snuck in to intercept a cross pass from Maryland's Simone Dekker at 41:18.

The second half offense was controlled by Maryland for nearly all of the 45 minutes. NC State was held to just two shots, neither landing on goal. The Terps had three of the five shots on goal hit the frame, including two off the post and one on the crossbar. The Pack made progress toward its end of the field midway through the period by posting two corner kicks, neither resulting in a shot. A free kick with just under 15 minutes remaining by Tognetti resulted in a shot on goal attempt by Griswold near the top of the box that sailed wide. Connors came up big once again for the Pack as she made six saves, including five in the second half. The Terps put tremendous pressure on NC State's backfield, as Maryland fired off 14 second half shots. Five NC State players finished the game with shots, including Wilkerson's goal, the Pack's Griswold and Helenius, sophomore Mandela Schumacher-Hodge and freshman Alex Caram each tallied a shot.

--PACK--