NC State
VCU
Parrilla's Header Gives Women's Soccer Win over VCU
9/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. Meredith Parrilla’s goal early in the first half stood up as the game winner for NC State in a 1-0 victory over Virginia Commonwealth Sunday afternoon at Method Road.
NC State (5-1-2) posted its second shutout of the weekend after blanking Elon on Friday. The Pack also extends its unbeaten streak to six matches, while VCU (3-4-1) had its two-match winning streak snapped.
Similar to Friday’s win at Elon, sophomore Katie Ruiz again played a significant role in the winning goal for the Wolfpack. In a direct kick that basically set up like a corner kick, Ruiz’s blast deftly found the head of Parrilla, who promptly deposited the ball into the unmanned left side of the net at the 7:50 mark of the first half.
NC State sophomore keeper Sydney Little earned her second straight clean sheet and third of the season by making seven saves in 90 minutes. In the process she extended her scoreless streak between the pipes to 308:24.
Early in the second half, VCU mounted some pressure into the NC State half. Stephanie Power had a pair of shots on net, but Little was more than up to the task, including one that she raced off her line to meet Power and was able to get a glove on the shot.
A few moments later in the 53rd minute, Jessica O’Rourke broke free from the Rams defense and was one-on-one with keeper Emily Niman. She made a jab step to the left and then sent a delicate shot to the right that bounced off the post.
That unfortunate break for NC State nearly cost them when Myriam Bouchard crashed the net off a Megan Flanagan corner and rang a one-timer off the cross bar that ultimately preserved the shutout for the Pack.
Niman made only one save during the match in the loss.
NC State begins ACC play on Thursday at Miami at 7 pm in Coral Gables.
