Football
Kate Shefte
Sports Editor
Record: 5-7
Season highlight: A hard-fought 28-27 win over ACC rival Carolina in both teams’ season finales
The Pack went 5-7 overall and just 2-6 in conference play after being a preseason dark horse to win the ACC championship. With a Rookie of the Year quarterback and a veteran lineup to support him, expectations were high around Wolfpack Nation.
Things looked promising in the early goings despite a 7-3 loss in the team’s season opener against South Carolina. State crushed its non-ACC opponents and surprised Big East opponent Pitt, which would go undefeated through October and most of December before losing in its title game to Cincinnati.
However, an injury-filled season derailed the Pack. Nate Irving, who was supposed to have a breakout year at the linebacker position, was injured in a car accident and lost to a knee injury before the season began. Without him and an experienced secondary unit, the Pack defense struggled mightily and gave up an average of 31.5 points per game.
In addition, the Pack saw 13 players go down with season-ending injuries. After the season’s conclusion, head coach Tom O’Brien likened the locker room to a “M*A*S*H unit.”
Blow-out losses against Duke and Boston College didn’t help matters. State fans expected their team to surge coming out of the bye week, but it only managed one win against Maryland on Homecoming day.
The Pack was ineligible for a bowl going into Thanksgiving Break, but it rallied from behind for a one-point emotional victory over storied rival UNC in its final game.
State’s defense will need time to mature, but an experienced, talented offensive line will provide plenty to be excited about next year. Toney Baker, winner of the 2009 Piccolo Award for the “most courageous” football player in the ACC, is now eligible to return for a sixth year and All-ACC tight end George Bryan has two years remaining. Should Russell Wilson choose to remain at State, the Pack should be in good shape for 2010.
Final grade: C
Volleyball
Brent Kitchen
Staff Writer
Record: 8-27 (1-19 ACC)
Season highlight: The dismissal of head coach Charita Stubbs The volleyball team was picked by an ACC preseason coaches poll to finish the season ahead of only Boston College in conference. The team had higher hopes than that, however, hoping to improve on a 2008 season that featured three ACC wins, the most during head coach Charita Stubbs’ tenure. The team fell short of both expectations, ending the season in last place in the ACC. The Pack’s sole conference win came in the last game of the season, a senior night matchup against rival UNC. The win is the team’s first and only victory over Carolina of the decade. The team was hampered by injuries throughout the season. Senior outside hitter Arlee Tamietti, junior outside hitter Sommer Ivory and sophomore outside hitter Allyson Weissberg all missed the season due to injuries while senior setter Allison Davis saw her action limited to just five matches due to injury. The adversity was not enough to save Stubbs’ job however, as Athletics Director Lee Fowler released her last week, citing her lack of wins during her four year tenure. The team’s final mark of 8-27 (1-19 ACC) was the second highest mark under Stubbs. Fowler said that a national search for a new head coach would begin immediately following the departure of Stubbs.
While 11 players with at least one year of eligibility remaining did not return under Stubbs’ reign, the team is expected to return its leader in kills, sophomore outside hitter Kelly Wood, assists, junior setter Alex Smith, digs, junior libero Lindsay Benac, and aces, freshman outside hitter Sarah Griggs. Despite the team’s poor performance record, Fowler’s move shows that N.C. State is committed to improving its volleyball program.
Final grade: D+
Men’s soccer
Fidelis Lusompa
Senior Staff Writer
Final Record: 13-7-2
Highlight of Season: Played in the ACC Championship game against Virginia
The men’s soccer team had one of its most successful seasons in recent years. It was the only team in the ACC that went undefeated in non-conference play. However, its regular season conference record was less than stellar. State only defeated two opponents from the ACC in the regular season. A Tyler Lassiter goal in double overtime gave State its first conference win of the season on Oct. 2 against Boston College. It also defeated then No. 8 Duke in Durham on Oct. 9 in double overtime 1-0. It scored first in its match against the defending national champions and then No. 4 Maryland, but it eventually the game ended in a tie, 1-1, in double overtime.
The Wolfpack continued to turn heads as it headed into the ACC Tournament. With poor field conditions due to the fact that the remnants of Hurricane Ida were soaking the southeast, the ACC moved all of the games on the first day up. State took on in-state rival North Carolina in a game that would come down to penalty kicks. The Pack advanced on penalty kicks, 4-1, to the semifinals of the tournament. State once again faced Boston College in the second round and scored an early goal in the first half, which held up for a 1-0 win.
The Wolfpack appeared in its first ACC championship game since 1990, but fell to the Virginia Cavaliers 1-0. UVA scored early and was able to keep the Pack away from its goal, though State had a number of opportunities to tie the game.
Because of its performance in the ACC tournament, the then-No. 13 men’s soccer team received a first round bye in the NCAA tournament and a home match set at Dail Soccer Field for Nov. 22 against the Portland Pilots. Though Portland made the long cross-country trip, its fatigue didn’t show. The Pilots scored the first goal a minute into the first half and headed into halftime with a 1-0 lead. State came back and tied the game at the 62:32 mark, but the Pilots took the lead again and ultimately eliminated the Pack from the tournament by a final score of 2-1.
The Wolfpack received a number of honors throughout the year. Seniors Ronnie Bouemboue, Alan Sanchez and Christopher Widman were named to the All-Conference tournament team. Sanchez also received first team all-ACC honors, while Bouemboue was named second team all-ACC. Bouemboue is a finalist for the Lowe senior class award. The award recognizes outstanding senior student athletes in NCAA division I-A in nine different sports.
Final grade: A-
Women’s soccer
Jen Hankin
Deputy Sports Editor
Record: 8-9-2
Best moment: Earning a win over ranked Virginia, the team’s first ACC victory in almost three years
The women’s soccer team closed its first season under coach Steve Springthorpe with its best finish in the past three years at 8-9-2 overall. While the team fell short of postseason play, it finished 2-7-1 in the ACC, amassing more ACC wins than in the previous two seasons combined.
The Pack began the season on a high note, going 6-2-1with its non-conference play. The team won its first three games on the season with sophomore goalkeeper Kim Kern notching back-to-back shutouts.
The first ACC win for the Pack came in the conference home season opener in the form of a 2-1 victory over No. 14 Virginia. The Pack also defeated Clemson Oct. 1 at Dail Stadium 2-1.
The Pack received an added boost from the fans at Dail Stadium as attendance increased by an average of 250 people per game.
The Wolfpack defense tightened up and allowed only 1.42 goals per game, and allowed 13 less than last season.
Several members of the women’s team received Atlantic Coast Conference honors. Freshman Kara Blosser made an immediate impact this season, ranking eighth with nine goals scored and ninth in total points with 20 in the ACC. Blosser was selected to the ACC All-Freshman team. Sophomore Paige Dugal scored three game-winning goals for the Pack, good for fifth most in the conference.
Springthorpe built a strong foundation in his inaugural season, and although five seniors will graduate, the Pack’s top three scorers and six of the top-10 from this past season will be back in 2010. Women’s soccer gets high marks for improvement, but the next step is the postseason.
Final grade: C+
Men’s Cross Country
Taylor Barbour
Deputy Sports Editor
Season highlight: Earning the ACC title, the team’s 11th in 15 years
In a down sports season for Pack athletics during the fall, the men’s cross country team was one of the few bright spots. The team was finally able to recapture the ACC title from two-time winner Virginia, making 2009 the 11th time in the past 15 years the team has won the ACC title. Outside of the ACC championship, the team finished second in the Southeast Regional and 27th in the NCAA championships.
Pack cross country continues its dominance in the sport, as it is the 21st time the team finished in the top-30 in the NCAA race in the past 26 years. The team was led all year by strong performances from sophomore Ryan Hill, redshirt senior John Martinez and redshirt freshman Patrick Campbell, all three of which captured All-ACC and All-Regional team honors. Also, Hill was named an All-American due to an excellent run at the NCAA race where he finished 19th.
Head coach Rollie Geiger was once again awarded the ACC coach of the year, making it the 12th time he has been named the ACC Coach of the Year. Including his time coaching the women’s cross country team and track and field, Geiger has won the award a total of 33 times.
Final grade A-
Women’s Cross Country
Samantha Collier
Staff Writer
Season highlight: Placing second in the Wolfpack Invitational
The women’s cross country team kicked off the season with a second place finish in the Wolfpack Invite. Five of the top six runners were a part of the Pack. Most of the runners were running unattached, but had they all been official runners of the race the team would have had a final score of 18, giving them a first place finish (the official score was 38). Two weeks later the Pack ran at the 2009 Paul Short Run, where it finished in fourth place.
After the preliminaries, the team traveled to Terre Haute, Ind. where it participated in the NCAA Pre-Nationals. The team entered the race unranked and finished 13th in the team standings. Sophomore Emily Pritt finished 13th in the individual standings, 29 seconds behind individual winner Jenny Barringer of Colorado. Senior Brittany Tinsely, Pritt and senior Kara McKenna held a solid front in the race.
Following Pre-Nationals, N.C. State hosted the ACC Cross Country Championships Saturday, Oct. 31. The team finished the race with 109 points, taking fourth place behind third place Virginia Tech, second place Duke and ACC champions Florida State. Pritt’s seventh-place finish, with a time of 20:22.9, earned her all-conference honors. Tinsley finished 15th (20:45.0), freshman Jordan Jenkins 19th (21:00.7), sophomore Andie Cozzarelli 33rd (21:35.5) and freshman Erin Mercer 40th (21:47.1).
At Regionals, held in Louisville, Ky, the women just missed a guaranteed spot at nationals with a third place finish behind Duke and Virginia. While the team did not qualify for nationals, Tinsley and Pritt both landed on the All-Regional team and finished in the top 10, qualifying them individually for the NCAA Championships.
Individual performances by lead performers helped take the team name to Nationals.
Final grade: C+
