Kern, Wolfpack Shutout Elon, 2-0

Sunday, September 13

Elon, NC

NC State

5-1-1

Elon

2-2-1

NC State

Elon University

9/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

ELON, N.C. – A distinct and positive theme for the NC State women’s soccer team has reared its head in the last week. The Wolfpack has found two more talented scoring threats in Kara Blosser and Paige Dugal.

Each player scored once for the Wolfpack Sunday in a 2-0 victory at Elon as the visiting Pack bounced back from a disappointing 2-2 tie Friday with East Carolina.

“We’re happy to go on the road and get a win, especially after playing a long game Friday night in the overtime game with ECU,” said NC State head coach Steve Springthorpe.

“It was a total team effort. Our bench contributed in a good way as we played a lot of players tonight and they played well after a lot of minutes just two nights ago.”

Dugal and Blosser have combined to score all eight of the Wolfpack’s goals (four each) in the last three games. They also have 11 of the club’s 17 goals for the year.

Blosser, the freshman from Spotsylvania, Va., gave NC State (5-1-1) the lead in the 18th minute with a little bit of persistence. Blosser dribbled the ball in from the top of the box and took a short shot that bounced off the chest of Elon keeper Sydney Little. Little was unable to corral the loose ball and Blosser took advantage with a shot off the rebound that landed in the back of the net and gave the Wolfpack the early advantage.

“Blosser made a great individual effort to score our first goal,” added Springthorpe. “She got in past the defense and calmly scored once again for us.”

The first-year dynamo nearly scored again 10 minutes later off a header, but Little hauled in the shot to keep the game a one-goal difference.

Elon (2-2-1) came on strong at the tail end of the first half by mustering up three shots, including a header shot off a corner kick, but none were on target and the Pack took a 1-0 lead into halftime.

The Wolfpack continued to pressure the Elon back line in the final period. Little made a diving save early in the half on a header by Blosser to keep the Phoenix within a strike. In the 62nd minute, NC State's Gia Cipollini served a long ball from the right side and found Dugal in the middle of the box. Dugal one-timed a shot from about 10 yards out past a sprawling Little to give the Wolfpack a two-goal cushion.

“Gia sent a really great ball that Paige was able to get a foot on and give us a little bit of breathing room,” said Springthorpe. “Couple that with Kim’s (Kern) outstanding save later in the game and we we’re able to keep momentum in our favor.

Kern made the aforementioned save, her only one of the game, at the 79:02 mark to maintain her third clean sheet of the year and the teams fourth overall.

“Credit Elon for playing hard and playing good defense against us. They limited our opportunities on offense, but in the end I’m happy to see us bounce back from a tough result on Friday,” said Springthorpe. “Now we can take this next week to prepare for another road test against Charlotte.”

The Wolfpack held an 8-7 lead in shots. Each team had one corner kick.

NC State has a week off before hitting the road again to take on Charlotte next Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY:
1    17:25    ST    Kara Blosser (6) (unassisted)
2    61:03    ST    Paige Dugal (5) (Gia Cipollini)

Shots: NC State 8, Elon 7
Saves: NC State 1 (Kim Kern 1), Elon 4 (Sydney Little 4)