Women's Soccer Grabs ACC Win From No. 14 UVa

Thursday, September 24

Raleigh, N.C.

NC State

6-2-1, 1-0-0ACC

Virginia

5-2-2, 0-1-0ACC

Virginia

NC State

9/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – Paige Dugal scored with just over two minutes left in regulation to lead NC State to a 2-1 ACC victory over No. 14 Virginia on Thursday, Sept. 24.

All season first-year head coach Steve Springthrorpe has preached to whoever would listen that he wanted to make this program relevant again. Tonight his team took a giant step in the right direction.

“No question it’s a huge monkey of our back getting this victory,” Springthorpe said. “It’s not so much for me, but for these players it’s been a long time coming. I credit these players for working hard this week to prepare for this game and it really paid off.”

Things started well for the Pack as Dugal, the local product from Garner, N.C., gave the Wolfpack an early lead just five minutes into the first half when she lofted a left-footed shot over the Cavalier keeper into the far-upper corner from 15 yards out for a 1-0 lead.

The decision to start Nadia Aboulhosn for the first time in three weeks paid off as she and Kara Blosser picked up assists on the play as they made a pair of excellent passes to find a wide open Dugal for her sixth goal of the season.

That sent Virginia (5-2-2, 0-1-0 ACC) trailing in a game since its season opener against Penn State - the only other loss on its slate.

The Cavaliers rebounded almost immediately and began peppering NC State keeper Kim Kern. By the 19th minute, Sinead Farrelly had the best opportunity of the opening half when her header went off the post.

At halftime UVa led 9-2 in shots, but still trailed the Wolfpack 1-0.

It was more of the same in the second stanza as the visitors held control of the ball for most of the first 20 minutes, but their long shots were coming from far enough out that Kern was able to grab a hold of them with little effort.

But finally one snuck past her as Kate Norbo’s close range shot deflected off a defender and went just under the arm of Kern and trickled into the net at the 68:20 mark of the game to knot the score at 1-1.

Kern made perhaps the save of the night in the 79th minute when she came off her line to snuff out a scoring chance by Virginia’s Lauren Alwine. For Kern it was a play that her and the coaches worked on this week.

“We’ve been practice a lot on judging the ball and when to come and when to stay. I think I made the right decision at that point in the game, said Kern.”

The pace of play gradually picked up for the final 10 minutes of the match. After Virginia controlled the action for most of the game, the Wolfpack looked to have once last spurt of energy in them and did it ever pay off in the 88th minute.

Alyson Santilli harmlessly started the play with a throw in over the head of Tanya Cain. Once Cain settled the ball she lofted a high arcing ball that Dugal ran in on and headed in the net for the game winner in dramatic fashion for her team-topping seventh goal of the season (third game winner).

“I don’t think I’ll ever forget that one for sure,” said an exhausted Dugal after the game. “First ACC win!

“It’s something you’ll never forget. Even the seniors after the game said ‘I’ll never forget that’. We we’re so due a win after the last couple seasons.”

But she also understands there’s along way to go in this season.

“It’s fantastic to win, but we need to keep battling because they’re all going to be strong teams (in the ACC),” said Dugal. “This was a definite confidence booster that will help us throughout the ACC and hopefully on Sunday.”

The win marks the Pack’s first in ACC play since a 1-0 win over Maryland on Oct. 11, 2006.

NC State gets right back to work Sunday against Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. from Dail Soccer Field.
 
SCORING SUMMARY:
1    4:59    ST    Paige Dugal (6) (Kara Blosser;Nadia Aboulhosn)
2    68:20    VA    Kate Norbo (2) (Sinead Farrelly;Caitlin Miskel)
3    87:54    ST    Paige Dugal (7) (Tanya Cain, Alyson Santilli)

Shots: Virginia 21, NC State 4
Saves: Virginia 0 (), NC State 10 (Kim Kern 10)