North Carolina State University Athletics
No. 13 Men's Soccer Falls 2-1 in NCAAs
11/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. – In the end, NC State's No. 13-ranked soccer team couldn't take advantage of its many opportunities to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
The Wolfpack, hosting a second-round game against unranked Portland at the Dail Soccer Field, out-shot the visiting Pilots 15-6 on the blustery afternoon, but only found the back of the net once and was eliminated 2-1.
Portland (12-5-5) advances to play Virginia next Sunday in the round of 16, while the Wolfpack ends its season with a 13-7-2 mark.
The Pilots surprised the Wolfpack in the opening minute of play, when Jarad Vanschaik booted a cornerkick across the field to teammate Drew Chrostek, who knocked the ball in at the 1:03 mark to give his team a quick lead.
"If you score like that in the first minute of the game, that's is a shocking goal," said Wolfpack coach George Tarantini. "But it is still a goal. It took us by surprise."
Tarantini had just talked about defending such a play, but the Pilots seized the momentum with the early opportunity.
"We came out a little slow," said senior Ronnie Bouemboue. "This is the NCAA Tournament, you have to come out sharp and ready to go. They caught us sleeping.
"They got an opportunity and put it away early."
The Wolfpack, which out-shot the Pilots 5-3 in the first period, had several opportunities to tie the game. In particular, reserve Akil DeFreitas came off the bench and found himself in a perfect spot to tie the score, since Portland goalkeeper Justin Baarts was out of position.
DeFreitas took a pair of shots in rapid-fire fashion, but Baarts recovered in time to save both shots.
"I had just gotten in the game, so it was kind of difficult for me to score right away," said DeFreitas, a junior from Port of Spain, Trinidad. "As I got into the game more, it was a little easier. It was a tough, physical game."
Early in the second half, junio Tyler Lassiter had a crossing opportunity in front of the net at the 46:45 mark, and Lucas Carpenter sailed a shot that Baarts punched over the top of the crossbar at the 52:12 mark.
Akil eventually tied the score at the 58:23 mark, as he lofted an open shot past Baarts, following a pass from Chrystel Bakong.
But less than four minutes later, the Pilots regained the lead, thanks to a shot by Ryan Luke and an assistant by Collen Warner.
"That was important to answer their goal that quickly," Portland coach Bill Irwin said. "The momentum went back their way a little bit and we were able to turn them around."
The quick score and quick answer allowed the Pilots to be in charge throughout the game and the Pack was left scrambling to play catch-up almost the entire 90 minutes.
"You have to stay focused," said Bouemboue. "We were able to get one in, but they came right back and out one away. In games like this, you can't sleep."
And you can't keep missing opportunities. The Pack had 15 total shots, four shots on goal and four second-half cornerkicks. But only DeFreitas managed to find the net.
"The problem is opportunities never win games," Tarantini said. "You have to finish your chances. In this game, if you don't finish your chances, the other team will."
Tarantini, who led his high-scoring team to the ACC title game and its highest national ranking in three years, says good-bye to nine seniors, including Bouemboue, goalkeeper Christopher Widman, defender Korede Aiyegbusi and midfielder Alex Sanchez.
"We had a wonderful season," Tarantini said. "I am very proud of our team."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
