FINAL: NC State 1, Rutgers 1
RECORD: 1-0-2
NEXT: NC State at Colorado
Thursday, August 31st at 9 p.m.
The Wolfpack got off to a bad start as Rutgers opened the scoring in the sixth minute.
NCSU had control of the ball for most of the final 80 minutes, with its best scoring chances coming on set-pieces and counterattacks.
It was on a set piece (corner kick) that NC State leveled matters with its breakthrough. Annika Wohner's 88th-minute goal gave the Wolfpack a draw against a solid major conference opponent.
After the match, NC State head coach Tim Santoro felt that the draw was a fair result. He wants to continue to see growth from his midfielders and better finishing from his team in the final third of the field as the season progresses.
Rutgers did not deserve to win simply because the Scarlet Knights refused to attack after scoring the opening goal. Once its first salvo found the back of the net, Rutgers played nine or even 10-back, with usually only a lone striker loitering around midfield. That strategy might be sound with a two-goal cushion, and against NC State a second goal probably would have done the trick, but there were attacking chances available. If a team shows that its best chance is set pieces, a careful opponent will sit back once it gets a lead. That decision cost Rutgers a non-conference, road win.
Regarding skill and creativity, NC State has one player, Jameese Joseph, who is at an elite level. My criteria for that analysis is I try to imagine which players would feature on a top team or get the same type of playing time if they were on the Wolfpack's opposition -- which is quite good as Tim Santoro makes sure that his schedule has solid opponents. Joseph does remarkable things with the ball at her feet and has a 'first touch' that most of her teammates do not possess. She is the player that grabs your attention.
For me, Joseph saved the Wolfpack from defeat -- despite not factoring in the goal. She is the one player who can beat the opposition with pace, headiness, and possession on counters, even when the opposition has a numerical advantage. Rutgers went into the soccer version of 'prevent defense' to help account for her -- most especially on counterattacks and they never seriously threatened to score again because of it. The Scarlet Knights were waiting to be reeled in.
What NC State does have in abundance is several hardworking players who work diligently and have terrific durability, so there will be victories out there in non-conference and league play for them to get. They will have to be fundamentally sound, but in soccer that can carry a team far. When set pieces are on the table, the chances have to be converted.
The crowd at Dail Soccer Field was terrific. NC State listed its attendance at over 1,400 folks and there was great participation from the students. All-in-all, it was a wonderful night of soccer.
It is not an elite team, but it can be a successful one. NC State is going to have to grind this season, but there are both some growth opportunities and great wins out there for them to get.
Annika Wohner's goal in the 88th minute tied the game against Rutgers on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at Dail Soccer Field.
RECORD: 1-0-2
NEXT: NC State at Colorado
Thursday, August 31st at 9 p.m.
The Wolfpack got off to a bad start as Rutgers opened the scoring in the sixth minute.
NCSU had control of the ball for most of the final 80 minutes, with its best scoring chances coming on set-pieces and counterattacks.
It was on a set piece (corner kick) that NC State leveled matters with its breakthrough. Annika Wohner's 88th-minute goal gave the Wolfpack a draw against a solid major conference opponent.
After the match, NC State head coach Tim Santoro felt that the draw was a fair result. He wants to continue to see growth from his midfielders and better finishing from his team in the final third of the field as the season progresses.
Rutgers did not deserve to win simply because the Scarlet Knights refused to attack after scoring the opening goal. Once its first salvo found the back of the net, Rutgers played nine or even 10-back, with usually only a lone striker loitering around midfield. That strategy might be sound with a two-goal cushion, and against NC State a second goal probably would have done the trick, but there were attacking chances available. If a team shows that its best chance is set pieces, a careful opponent will sit back once it gets a lead. That decision cost Rutgers a non-conference, road win.
Regarding skill and creativity, NC State has one player, Jameese Joseph, who is at an elite level. My criteria for that analysis is I try to imagine which players would feature on a top team or get the same type of playing time if they were on the Wolfpack's opposition -- which is quite good as Tim Santoro makes sure that his schedule has solid opponents. Joseph does remarkable things with the ball at her feet and has a 'first touch' that most of her teammates do not possess. She is the player that grabs your attention.
For me, Joseph saved the Wolfpack from defeat -- despite not factoring in the goal. She is the one player who can beat the opposition with pace, headiness, and possession on counters, even when the opposition has a numerical advantage. Rutgers went into the soccer version of 'prevent defense' to help account for her -- most especially on counterattacks and they never seriously threatened to score again because of it. The Scarlet Knights were waiting to be reeled in.
What NC State does have in abundance is several hardworking players who work diligently and have terrific durability, so there will be victories out there in non-conference and league play for them to get. They will have to be fundamentally sound, but in soccer that can carry a team far. When set pieces are on the table, the chances have to be converted.
The crowd at Dail Soccer Field was terrific. NC State listed its attendance at over 1,400 folks and there was great participation from the students. All-in-all, it was a wonderful night of soccer.
It is not an elite team, but it can be a successful one. NC State is going to have to grind this season, but there are both some growth opportunities and great wins out there for them to get.
Annika Wohner's goal in the 88th minute tied the game against Rutgers on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at Dail Soccer Field.
Twitter: @RobMcLamb
