In the final conference matchup of the season, the NC State women’s soccer team defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers 2-1 in overtime at Dail Soccer Stadium Thursday night.
Freshman Tziarra King headed in the winning goal in the 96th of sudden-death overtime to send the Wolfpack to its first ACC tournament since 2006.
“It’’s awesome to continue our season,” said senior Rachel Cox.
The win is the Pack’s 10th of the year, the first time it has accomplished this feat since 2011, and improves its record to 10-7-1(4-5-1 ACC). The fourth conference win of the season marks the most by a Wolfpack team since 1995 and just the second time in program history that it has achieved that milestone.
“When you’re building a program, you want take steps that you haven’t taken in a while and this was one of them,” head coach Tim Santoro said. “We think we have a very good resume to be in the NCAA tournament.”
The Pack got on top early with a goal from freshman Kia Rankin in the 10th minute. Sophomore Hannah Keogh took a corner kick, passing it to freshman Ricarda Walkling at the top of the box. Walkling took a dribble and ripped a shot into the box, which deflected off Rankin and into the back of the Pitt goal. The goals was Rankin’s fifth of the season, putting the Wolfpack up 1-0.
After dominating the first 15 minutes possession-wise, Pitt took control in the following part of the half.
Sophomore goalkeeper Sydney Wootten made an impressive save to preserve the NC State lead in the 18th minute. The Panthers broke through the Pack backline, as Pitt’s Cheyenne Hudson shot from inside the box, only to meet Wootten who deflected the shot.
Sarah Krause tied the game up for the Panthers in the 35th minute. After a pass from Arielle Fernandez found Krause’s feet just inside the box, Krause connected on a shot which sailed into the top left corner past Wooten’s outstretched arms. The score tied the match at 1-1.
NC State’s pattern of outshooting its opponent continued in the first half of the contest, as Pack held the advantage in the shot category 10-4. State also took two corners while the Panthers failed to record one.
The Wolfpack dominated possession in the second half. Despite getting off 10 shots in the second half, the Wolfpack could not execute. The decisive goal eluded either team and the match was still tied 1-1 at the end of regulation.
NC State finally broke through in the 96th minute when Keogh lofted a corner kick into a slew of players in the box. The ball went off of King’s head and into the back of the Panther goal, winning the match for the Wolfpack in dramatic fashion.
With the win, NC State is slated to make its first ACC tournament appearance in over 10 years.
“It’s unbelievable. My first two years we went 0-10 both years so that was really, really hard,” junior Cailyn Boch said. “We’ve had this goal since Aug. 3 to make the tournament and all of our hard work finally paid off and it’s the greatest feeling ever.”
In their final appearance at Dail Soccer Stadium, Cox, along with fellow senior Gladys Loyas, were overjoyed at the outcome.
“It means so much to us,” Loyas said. “This is what we were working for, our fourth year, we’re seniors, we knew we were going to make it, but we weren’t sure when it would happen but it’s finally here and it’s such an incredible feeling.”
The Wolfpack clinched the 8-seed in the ACC tournament and will take on the top-seed Notre Dame Sunday in South Bend, Indiana.
