North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack to Host Summitt Hospitality Invite this Weekend
9/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 1, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State women's soccer, fresh off of two-straight wins to open the season, will host the Summitt Hospitality Invite this Friday, Sept. 2 and Sunday, Sept. 4. The Wolfpack, now 2-0-0 on the year, welcomes Liberty (1-0-1), Elon (0-1-0) and Delaware (1-0-1) to SAS Soccer Park in Cary. A match between Elon and Delaware kicks the event off at 5 p.m. on Friday. NC State will meet Liberty at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Elon will take on Liberty at noon and the Wolfpack will host Delaware at 2:30 p.m. NC State defeated High Point, 5-0, and College of Charleston, 1-0 in double overtime prior to entering this weekend's contests. Senior goalkeeper Kim Selz and freshman Lindsay Vera have led NC State on both sides of the ball. Selz earned her first career shutout with the win over College of Charleston and Vera leads the Pack with two goals, which includes the golden goal against the Cougars last Sunday.
The Wolfpack's winning streak actually extends back to the 3-1 exhibition win at William & Mary back on Aug. 20. Since then NC State has been working its game on both sides of the ball. The group has tallied two shutouts, which includes a 5-0 win at High Point on Aug. 26 and a 1-0 on Aug. 28. Selz's first collegiate shutout was earned after she, along with the Wolfpack defense, made five saves and held the Cougars to just seven total shots for the match. She has five saves on the year after two consecutive starts in goal. At midfield, Vera has been sensational, posting four of her five shots on goal and two goals on the season already to lead the team. Two of their teammates have also contributed offensively. Junior midfielder Carol Tognetti scored her first goal this season in the win at High Point and added an assist to Vera's golden goal. Freshman Mallory Schmidt had a goal and an assist at High Point. As a team, NC State has placed 17 of its 39 shots on goal.
In Friday's action NC State will take on Liberty. The Wolfpack has met Liberty just once before, back on Sept. 17, 2002, and came away with a 3-0 victory at Method Road in Raleigh. The Flames are off to their best start since 1991, having started the season unbeaten after two games at 1-0-1. Freshman defender Amy Oberlin has netted a goal in each game and goalkeeper Sonia Rodriguez has been solid in the frame, allowing just 1.35 goals per game with a .786 save percentage. Oberlin was later named Big South Conference Player of the Week for her week's performance. Senior midfielder Sarah Davis and sophomore forward Ashley Braam also scored goals at UMBC in the 3-2 win. Braam was tied for second in scoring on the Flames' squad a year ago.
On Sunday, NC State will take on Delaware in the final game of the four-match set this weekend. NC State is 1-0-0 all-time versus the Blue Hens and defeated the squad 3-1 in a tournament at George Mason on Sept. 12, 2003. Delaware opened the season for the third straight year with a shutout of Saint Joseph's, defeating the Hawks 1-0. Senior goalkeeper Lindsey Shover has given up one goal in 200 minutes of action and notched another shutout, bringing her career total to 15. Freshman forward Caitlyn Germain has led the Hens in shots both games with five in each. Head coach Scott Grzenda is looking for two wins to reach 150 for his career. NC State freshman Kasie Shover, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, will meet her sister, Lindsey Shover, the Hens' starting netminder.
Notes about Elon: Elon is guided by first year head coach Chris Webb. Webb comes to Elon after serving as an assistant coach at East Carolina for five seasons. Returning for the Phoenix in 2005 are its top five scorers from a year ago: Tina Longo, Monica Houseworth, Gillian Murray, Alisa Petitt and Jaclyn Immordino. Elon owns a 6-6 all-time record against the Liberty Lady Flames, but has never faced the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens.
