Wolfpack Falls in ACC Opener at Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH – The NC State women's soccer team dropped its Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Sunday afternoon, falling at Pittsburgh by a final score of 2-0.

Jackie Stengel, Jenna Kalwa, and Rachel Cox led the Wolfpack (4-6-0, 0-1-0 ACC) offense with two shots each. State generated seven total shots on the afternoon. In goal, redshirt junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Stelljes made four saves.

The Panthers (7-1-1, 1-0-0 ACC), off to their best start in program history, scored goals in the 30th and 53rd minutes to claim the victory. Jarena Harmon scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season following a Wolfpack midfield turnover to make it 1-0 and Seyla Perez doubled the hosts' advantage when she scored from within six yards on a corner kick service.

"Midfield turnovers and set pieces: we talk about that a lot," said NC State head coach Tim Santoro. "The first goal came from a throw in and the second from a corner. These are things that we've addressed a lot but it's a mental side of the game that we just don't have right now. We don't have a consistent attention to detail.

"In the run of play we are pretty solid, but key turnovers in the middle part of the field and mental mistakes on set pieces and throw ins, those are difference makers."

NC State stepped up its offensive pressure during the final nine minutes of the match, firing three shots. Kalwa came particularly close on two occasions, once missing high by a matter of feet from 16 yards away and in the 85th minute skimming a shot off the crossbar from 20 yards out.

The Wolfpack now returns home to Dail Soccer Field for its next three matches. State will host No. 9 Virginia Tech on Thursday, Sept. 24 with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

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Team Stats

Jenna Kalwa

Jackie Stengel

Rachel Cox

Hannah Keogh

Players Mentioned

Rachel Cox

Jenna Kalwa

Mackenzie Stelljes

Jackie Stengel

Players Mentioned

Rachel Cox

Jenna Kalwa

Mackenzie Stelljes

Jackie Stengel