Blosser leads Women's Soccer Past Clemson

Thursday, October 1

Raleigh, N.C.

NC State

7-3-1, 2-1ACC

Clemson

3-8, 0-3ACC

Clemson

NC State

10/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – Freshman Kara Blosser scored twice to give NC State a 2-1 victory over Clemson in Atlantic Coast Conference women’s soccer action Thursday night from Dail Soccer Field.

NC State improves to 7-3-1 and 2-1 in the ACC, while Clemson falls to 3-8, 0-3 in the league.

The first half was described by Wolfpack coach Steve Springthorpe as less than impressive. And rightly so it probably was as neither team offered up much scoring opportunities in the opening 45 minutes.

But soccer is played in two halves and Springthorpe was encouraged that his clubs effort would be better after halftime.

“The good thing was it was 0-0 (at halftime) so we had somewhere to sort of move from,” explained Springthorpe. “We challenged them at halftime, changed the mentality, and to there credit they really, really played hard. We tackled hard and we won balls and players picked up there game.”

Senior Gia Cipollini is a verbal leader on the back line for the Wolfpack and she got her point across to Blosser early in the second half and that paid off in the 59th minute.

Cipollini found a streaking Blosser in the Pack’s defensive end and she pretty much did the rest from there as she made three, four, maybe five defenders miss over a lengthy run through the middle of the field. She made one final move to her right and unleashed a shot from outside the box that hit the back of the net for the game’s first tally.

“That first one gave us the momentum we needed,” Blosser said. “She (Gia) can be really hard on me during the game, but I know it’s for the better of the team. She really got me fired up in the second half.”

But that momentum quickly evaporated when Clemson’s Heather Marik scored off a free kick from 40-yards out when Wolfpack keeper Kim Kern mishandled the shot and it leaked past the defense for the game’s tying goal at 62:58.

But a determined Wolfpack club, behind a very vocal home crowd, dug deep and was able to come up with the equalizer just four minutes later.

Kara Baldy left a pass for a streaking Alex Berger who had come up from her defensive position. Berger beat her defender and made a spectacular pass that Blosser one-touched into the net for what turned out to be the game winner.

Blosser and Berger joined in a celebratory hug as the fans patted each of them on the back in a wild celebration that broke out at the 67:01 mark of the game.

NC State is off to its best start in league play since 2002 and it’s exactly where Springthorpe wants to be.

“It’s a good place. We haven’t been 2-1 in a while and a lot of firsts are happening and that’s great,” Springthorpe said. “The kids are really excited about our start, but we need to just keep playing hard.”

Cipollini, who hails from nearby Cary, N.C., understands the importance of a good start but knows there is much more to play for in her final season.

“Two wins are great in the ACC, but we’ve got great teams ahead of us. We’ve got to look forward to BC on Sunday and we really need to prepare for them.”

The Wolfpack most certainly will have its work cut out for themselves as the Eagles are ranked sixth nationally. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

SCORING SUMMARY:
1    58:50    ST    Kara Blosser (7) (Gia Cipollini)
2    62:58    CU    Heather Marik (1) (unassisted)
3    67:01    ST    Kara Blosser (8) (Alex Berger;Kara Baldy)

Shots: Clemson 6, NC State 9
Saves: Clemson 2 (Paula Pritzen 2), NC State 0 ()