Courtesy: Karl DeBlaker http://www.gopack.com/ Chantalle Dugas gave the Pack a two-goal lead midway through the first half.
RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State women’s soccer team scored twice in the first half to record a 2-0 victory over Francis Marion in a non-league tilt Thursday evening at Dail Soccer Field.
The Wolfpack broke through with a goal in the 10th minute from senior midfielder Kendall Irby. She one-touched a cross from sophomore Paige Dugal for her first of the season.
Midway through the opening half NC State struck again on a similar play for a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Tanya Cain setup senior midfielder Chantalle Dugas for her second marker of the year at 21:41 and that was all the Wolfpack needed to move its record back to an even 8-8-2 on the year.
And though the Pack came out on top tonight, there were moments that frustrated head coach Steve Springthorpe.
“Not a great performance by us today, but I’m never going to take away the fact that we won a game so I’m happy about that,” said Springthorpe. “Our team is back at .500 and when we started practice the other day that’s part of the goal…now we’ll see what we can do to get over .500 against Duke.”
It’s a game the Wolfpack wants to get to cap off a strong first season under Springthorpe. A win over Duke would mark the programs first winning season since 2002.
“We’ll need to play better. There’s no doubt,” added Springthorpe. “ I hope, being our last home game, it’s senior day, and we have some goals still to accomplish, that we can come out and play hard and with a little more desire and passion.”
Dugas, a team captain, also wants to see her team finish the season strong with a better performance.
“The girls know the importance of the next game…we just have to come in prepared, focus, play with intensity and play hard.”
Wolfpack keeper Kim Kern made four saves in 79:01 of work, while Abbie Swank played the final 10:59 of the match to complete the clean sheet.
Sunday’s match with Duke begins at 1 p.m.
Goals by period 1 2 Tot Francis Marion 0 0 0 NC State 2 0 2
Courtesy: Karl DeBlaker
