Women’s Soccer Suffers 1st Loss of Season to NC State

By Ethan Marsh, Reporter
​Wilmington, NC – The women’s soccer team at UNCW knew they had a history with NC State, and with history on their side by having an excellent season thus far, UNCW went into this game with confidence and eagerness to take on a major team from North Carolina. It resulted in a 2-0 defeat to the Wolfpack, UNCW’s first loss of the season on Labor Day Weekend.

NC State prior to this matchup had a 5-0-0 record against UNCW despite it being wins by only 1 goal in 2013 and 2014. This was the time NC State came to visit the Port City since 1999. This was a treat for NC State as they were the lone team in the matchup to manage to nail the soccer ball on the opposing team’s goal to win it 2-0.
 
This matchup served as one of the charitable times of this season. This was the Seahawk’s Friends of Jaclyn Game as the Women’s soccer team was collecting donations during the game versus the NC State wolfpack and donations can be made online as well. This is to support the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation and to bring and raise awareness to the cause of helping children with brain tumors and childhood cancers in general.
 
In the first 3 minutes, it already showed promise to be a competitive match up. Each team traded going down close to the goal before ultimately going out of bounds after a failed attempt. After a close attempt at 15 minutes into the matchup, NC State made their first goal at 17:06. UNCW fended off the Wolfpack’s aggressive play as much as they could, but NC State broke through on this first one and then a long shot later in the 2nd half to make the final score 2-0.
 
UNCW consistently showed a strong case, but never could get the soccer ball into the goal as the Wolfpack from Raleigh’s goalie played outstandingly in preventing the Seahawks from scoring. Both sides of the fan base in the bleachers shouted in excitement and anguish throughout the matchup, but the Wolfpack felt much more excitement than the Seahawk’s side.
 
There was a controversial call by the referee that sent the Seahawk’s crowd in outrage. Both sides of the field exemplified great effort and aggressiveness to play their best, NC State just got the edge in this one. UNCW goalie, Caroline Huddy played with great despite, allowing the first one in and being off guard from the second one from far out. Huddy managed NC State effectively at all other times.
 
This loss for the UNCW Women’s Soccer team marks as the first one for this 2016 season, which makes the record 4-1-1 to start September, and it improved NC State’s overall advantage of a record over UNCW to 6-0-0. The Seahawks will next play at home on Friday, September 16th at 7pm versus George Mason, and will next play Sunday, September 11th away at Furman in Greenville, South Carolina. ​