Wolfpack Opens Season With 4-1 Win Over Oregon

EUGENE, Ore. – The NC State women’s soccer team made an opening #STATEment in its matchup at Oregon on Friday evening, earning a 4-1 win over the Ducks at Papè Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Paige Griffiths, Krissi Schuster, Kia Rankin and Maxine Blackwood scored one goal apiece while Tziarra King chipped in two assists and Naomi Powell and Ricci Walkling each had one.

The Ducks outshot the Pack 10-6, but all of NC State’s were on goal. Thanks to a strong Wolfpack defense, Sydney Wootten was only forced to make two saves.

NC State grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first 26 minutes of the match, as Griffths scored the team’s first goal of the season with a low drive to the far right post in the seventh minute. Schuster doubled the advantage in the 26th minute with another shot inside the far right post off Tziarra King’s first assist of the contest.

The Ducks looked to cut its deficit in the final minutes of the half with two quick shots but were unable to connect.

The Pack capitalized on its first half momentum, extending its lead to three as Rankin buried a shot inside 10 yards on a double assist by King and Walkling in the 61st minute.

Oregon scored its lone goal in the 67th minute as Brianne Parsons finished a low cross into the box on a double assist, but NC State sealed the win in the 85th minute on Maxine Blackwood’s shot from Naomi Powell’s pass at the top of the box.

UP NEXT
NC State will travel to Portland Sunday for an 8 p.m. ET matchup at Merlo Field. Live stats and stream will be available on TheW.TV.