North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
U18 Chinese National Team
Women's Soccer Edged by China in Exhibition
8/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 10, 2010
Steve Springthorpe Postgame Video
RALEIGH, N.C. - A once in a lifetime opportunity Tuesday night saw the under-18 Chinese National Team edge the NC State women's soccer team 5-4 in penalty kicks in an exhibition match from Dail Soccer Field.
A game that only featured a handful of scoring opportunities for most of the 90 minutes with the Wolfpack figuring out who they are just six days into pre-season camp, China abruptly capped the evening's festivities by converting all five of its penalty strikes in a friendly match that included a vocal Chinese fan base that chanted fight songs throughout the hot and humid evening.
In the end a group photo of nearly 50 players symbolized the joy that both teams enjoyed during this unique game. It was something certainly not lost on Wolfpack head coach Steve Springthorpe.
"Anytime you have the opportunity to play another country, especially China, a past World Cup participant, is great. To get that opportunity to play against that quality type of player is nothing but fantastic for our team and getting to meet them and share the field and the common goal of playing the sport of soccer is a pretty neat thing. Something that may only happen once.
"We're super happy that they decide to come to the Carolinas to play us and Carolina and use us as a warm up for the U.S. National Team."
The Tar Heels are scheduled to play China later this week over in Chapel Hill.
The funny thing is just over 24 hours before the game started, Springthorpe and the NC State administration weren't even sure if the game was going to take place.
According to Springthorpe, "We didn't really get confirmation until yesterday that it was actually going to happen."
The first contact came a little over a month ago by email explained Springthorpe.
"I thought maybe it was spam because we get these sorts of random emails once in a while, but when I heard from Anson (Dorrance) over at UNC he said he got the same email. We talked about, he made contact with them and kind of set things up and sure enough here we are."
Once the game began the Wolfpack featured three true freshmen in the starting lineup in Jennie Krauser at forward and Randi Soldat and Claudel Pilon on the back line.The first half was a feeling out process for both teams. NC State had a pair of corner kicks midway through the half, but that was about the extent of the offensive penetration for the home side.
On the other bench, China had all four shots in the first half, but nothing of any substance sent the clubs into intermission tied 0-0.
The halftime speeches and lineup tweaks seemed to spark both clubs. Wolfpack junior forward Tanya Cain nearly scored in the 50th minute, but her delicate touch over the keeper was cleared off the line after the ball ran out of gas as it chased the goal line.
A minute later Kara Blosser had the best chance for NC State when she got open but her shot went right of goal.
China marched right down the other way. Liu Jun send a lofting cross to the far left side of the field that Mu Yunrui gathered and blasted a shot that went off State keeper Kim Kern's gloves and off the cross bar.
The only other decent scoring chance came in the 85th minute when a header by NC State rookie reserve Lauren Woodson looped towards the upper-left corner but it was cleared and the game was destined for penalty kicks, an agreement that was decided by both coaches before the match began.
Each club connected on its first four attempts, but Yang Yan stopped Blosser's attempt and that led to Yang Ling's game winner a moment later.
And what does Springthorpe hope his team takes away from tonight's match.
"I hope they feel like we're a good team. Anytime you play a team that is as good as that and has great players like they do and your able to stay on the field and accomplish things is tremendous."
NC State opens regular season play Friday, August 20 at home against the University of Texas at 7 p.m.
