NC State
2-4-2
UNC Greensboro
2-4-2
Comeback Pack Draws UNC Greensboro, 2-2
9/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Despite falling behind 2-0 in the first half, the NC State women’s soccer team battled back for an impressive 2-2 draw at UNC Greensboro on Sunday evening.
Over the course of the second half and two overtime periods, the Wolfpack outshot the Spartans (2-4-2) by a 22-6 margin. NC State (2-4-2) ended the match with 24 total shots compared to 11 for UNCG. Kayla Saager (seven shots) and Alexa Allen (six) led the way for State.
The Wolfpack was without the services of freshmen Cailyn Boch and Mackenzie Graybill due to injury. Both Boch and Graybill have started six matches this season to rank near the top of the team. State is also missing the important contributions of sophomore forward Jackie Stengel, a 2013 All-ACC Freshman and Third team member who sustained an injury Aug. 29 at No. 20 Georgetown.
UNC Greensboro’s Chesney White put her side on the board early, finding the back of the net in the eighth minute. Making a run up the middle of the field, White received a cross from teammate Georgia Brown at the six-yard box and volleyed it past Mackenzie Stelljes for her fourth goal of the season.
White then doubled the Spartans’ advantage in the 32nd minute, scoring on a shot from outside the penalty area to give UNCG a 2-0 lead.
The Wolfpack came out strong to start the second half, firing four quick shots before the Spartans managed a single attempt towards goal.
“We made a pretty significant tactical adjustment (at the half)," said NC State head coach Tim Santoro. “That was one of the keys. The team adapted to the formation change well and played with a lot more urgency due to the situation we were in and the quality of the first half performance.
“All credit to the team. The tactics were the small part, but the team played well. Everyone was tuned in and we were good (after the first half).”
This pressure paid off for the first time in the 69th minute when Saager scored a nice goal at the near post to halve the Spartans’ lead. Saager received a cross from teammate Brittany Stanko and was able to tip it past goalkeeper Kirsten Glad for her team-leading fourth tally of the season.
Just two minutes later, Allen leveled the match in the 71st minute with a hard strike towards the near post from 16 yards away. Following a Dayna Tomayko corner, the ball bounced out to Allen, who smashed it through a minor defensive deflection and into the back of the net.
Throughout the course of the two overtime periods, NC State recorded five shots compared to UNCG’s two. Neither side was able to find the back of the net, however, and the Wolfpack recorded its second straight draw.
NC State will next be in action on Sunday, Sept. 21 at Wake Forest. The match will be the Wolfpack’s Atlantic Coast Conference opener and will begin at 1 p.m.
“The main thing is trying to be a complete team over 90 minutes,” Santoro added. “You can’t have letups and take time off against the teams which we’re about to meet in conference. If you take a 20-minute stretch of a game off, you will pay for it dearly.”
#GoPack
Team Stats
Chesney White (4)
Assisted By: Georgia Brown
off the cross from Brown, tapped in by W
7:57
Chesney White (5)
Dribbled past the defender and fired a s
31:25
Kayla Saager (4)
Assisted By: Brittany Stanko
off the rebound, put in
68:07
Alexa Allen (1)
Assisted By: Dayna Tomayko
off the corner kick, ball deflected in
70:46
