The N.C. State women’s soccer team took the field for the final time this season on Thursday night, upsetting No. 23 Wake Forest by a score of 2-1.
The win, which was State’s first win over a ranked team since 2009, brings the Wolfpack’s record to 7-12-0 to finish the year with a 2-11-0 mark in ACC play.
The game served as Senior Night for the Wolfpack, as five seniors took the field at the Dail Soccer Stadium for the last time. The Wolfpack’s seniors included midfielders Kaley Shlaes and Ariela Schreibeis, defenders Randi Soldat and Meagan Proper and forward Karri Owens.
“We’ve been playing the top teams tough all year,” head coach Tim Santoro said. “We definitely deserved a result like this.”
Santoro served as an assistant at Wake for four seasons before coming to State. It was his first time coaching against his former team and players that he used to work with.
“It’s bittersweet. I’ve spent a lot of time coaching some of these Wake players and recruited a lot of them,” Santoro said. “But right now I’m happy for our girls.”
The Demon Deacons struck first in the eighth minute as junior midfielder Riley Ridgik scored off of a nice assist from senior midfielder Ally Berry. State’s freshman goalkeeper Mackenzie Stelljes blocked Berry’s shot, but Ridgik was there for the rebound to put Wake ahead 1-0.
The Wolfpack answered in bizarre fashion nine minutes later, when Proper bent a corner kick over the outstretched arms of Wake’s senior goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe. It was Proper’s first career goal as a member of the Wolfpack.
“It feels great to score on my senior night, but it also feels good to score any time,” Proper said. “I didn’t really know how to celebrate since I’m not used to scoring goals.”
Proper’s shot was one of two shots of the half for the Pack while Wake Forest finished with six. The Deacs held an astounding 11-2 edge in corner kicks at the break.
The 1-1 deadlock lasted barely a minute into the second half. State’s sophomore forward Brittany Stanko capitalized off a Deacon turnover and blasted a shot past Bledsoe for her fifth goal of the season.
Stanko’s strike gave the Pack its first lead since a Sept. 29 matchup against Boston College, a game the Pack ended up losing 3-2.
The Pack threatened to double its lead when junior defender Shelli Spamer lofted a long free kick into the box. Both Shlaes and junior forward Jennie Krauser had attempts from close range, but Bledsoe thwarted both opportunities.
Krauser had another opportunity with more than 22 minutes remaining, but Bledsoe was equal to the task, making a nifty sliding save to keep her team’s deficit at one.
State’s defense neutralized an aggressive Deacon attack in the second half. The visitors nearly equalized in the 87th minute through Ridgik, but her header rolled just wide. Wake had seven shots after the break, but Stelljes kept them out of the net, registering five saves on the night as the Wolfpack sent its seniors off on a high note.
“I’m thrilled for our seniors to go out with a win,” Santoro said. “Not many people can say they did that. I’m happy for our whole group.”
