Class Goals Gives Women's Soccer Win Over ODU

Friday, August 21

Raleigh, N.C.

NC State

1-0

Old Dominion

0-1

Old Dominion

NC State

8/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – In the opening game of the NC State women’s soccer season first-year head coach Steve Springthorpe not only chalked up his first Wolfpack win, 3-0 over Old Dominion, but he also came out on top in a match up against his former college coach and mentor Joe Pereira.

It was something Springthorpe spent a lot of time thinking about leading up to this head-to-head battle at Dail Soccer Field. After tonight’s result it may take even longer to forget.

“That will go up on the shelf and will be something to look at and remember fondly,” said Springthorpe.

But it was more than just about the two coaches and their friendship. It was about getting his program off on the right foot and they certainly did that by defeating a perennially strong Old Dominion team that beat the Pack last year 1-0 in Norfolk, Va.

“Obviously it’s exciting. It’s exciting for the team coming off last year they lost to Old Dominion,” explained Springthorpe. “To be able to come back and win tonight in front of a great crowd was outstanding. It’s everything you would hope and expect for your first game.”

The match was played in front of a crowd of 1,221 that stayed vocal throughout and enjoyed the new brand of Wolfpack women’s soccer.

It certainly didn’t hurt that the Pack scored three magnificent goals, something Springthorpe described as “class” goals.

“Usually you maybe only see one great goal and a couple scrappy ones, but tonight we scored three great goals tonight,” said an excited Springthorpe.

Sophomore forward Paige Dugal got things going in the 17th minute. She collected a pass from freshman Kara Blosser, cut hard to her left and lofted a left-footed shot from just outside the box over keeper Bri Alvarado for a 1-0 advantage.

Dugal broke it down fairly simple after the game. “I got out wide and then cut it back and shot it with my off foot and it went over the keeper.

Old Dominion appeared to have tied the match up in the 24th minute when freshman Aubrie Ewell banged a shot off the upper-right post that ricocheted through the goal mouth, but it was cleared by the Pack defense moments later.

The Wolfpack regained control of the match and added another tally at the 28:47 mark when junior Nadia Aboulhosn struck from range, this time from the left corner. The Raleigh, N.C., native drilled her shot into the far upper-right corner from 22-yard out.

“I was going to cross it…but I cut it back and nobody was there so I kept dribbling in and heard one of my teammates yell ‘shoot’ so that helped me and I shot and next think I know I saw it go into the goal,” said Aboulhosn.

Senior Chantalle Dugas sealed the victory in the 57th minute when she corralled a pass from Meredith Parrilla, turned, did a little flip with the ball and unleashed a stellar shot that bent under the bar and over the keeper for a 3-0 lead – sending ODU to its first opening game loss since 2004.

Sophomore keeper Kim Kern recorded her fourth career clean sheet by making two saves.

The Wolfpack improves to 7-0-1 in season openers since 2001 and is now 3-1-1 all-time against the Monarchs.

NC State hits the road to take on local foe Campbell on Monday at 7 pm. Fans that can’t make the trip can watch a fee-based live video broadcast produced by Campbell. A link can be found on our Schedule / Results page at GoPack.com.