Following up last season’s 4-0 victory against Campbell in Raleigh, the women’s soccer team began their 2009 road campaign with another victory over the Camels, this time in Buies Creek, NC.

Sophomore forward Tanya Cain began the scoring early, knocking in a ball from 15 yards out off an assist from junior defensiveback Nadia Aboulhosn in the 7th minute of play. Cain said the early goal was crucial.

“I think the [early goal] is what we needed to get on top,” Cain said. “Steve [Springthorpe] was saying in the locker room that we needed to get that early goal so we could start to get our rhythm.”

The Pack presented a relentless attack in the first half, outshooting the Camels 11-0 in the first half.

“Part of it is good defending, and part of it is [Campbell’s] game plan,” head coach Steve Springthorpe said of Campbells lack of shots. “They were trying to limit shots, so they were defending a lot in their zone to begin with.”

Freshman midfielder Kara Blosser nearly padded the team’s lead in the 27th minute, hitting a shot off the top crossbar.

“I was really frustrated,” Blosser said of the close call. “I saw that we had 13 shots to zero, and I just kept hitting the crossbar.”

Cain almost notched another score on a break-away in the 58th minute, but sliding Camel goalie Anna Ditommaso denied the shot just inside the 18-yard box.

“I made the decision, and I missed it,” Cain said of the missed opportunity. “I’ll learn from that.”

Blosser avenged her close miss with a header from the edge of the 6-yard box off a free kick from senior midfielder and captain Chantalle Dugas in the 66th minute. Springthorpe said the goal was important because it eased some pressure in the closing minutes.

“When it’s only one to nothing, and it’s getting later in the game, to get that second goal relieves a little bit of pressure for us,” Springthorpe said.

Sophomore goalie Kim Kern recorded her only save in in 75th minute of the contest.

“We did what we needed to do defensively to keep the ball out of the net,” Springthorpe said. “Anytime you get a shutout, it’s good.”

The Wolfpack outshot the Camels 17-2 on the night, with six cornerkicks to Campbell’s none. While he acknowledged a few offensive mistakes, Springthorpe said he was pleased with the number of shots.

“There were some balls in the first half we didn’t get a foot on like we wanted to, but 17 shots is good,” Springthorpe said of the offensive performance. “One of our goals this year is to always try to outshoot the other team, and to get as many goal scoring opportunities as we can.”

The Pack suffered a setback in the 13th minute when freshman defensive back Alyssa Bennet went down with an injury. Bennet returned to the sideline in the second half on crutches with her right leg and knee wrapped.

“We’ll get back and evaluate her and see how it goes,” Springthorpe said of the injury. “Hopefully it’s not too serious.”

The win brings the Pack to 13-0-1 all time against Campbell.