Raleigh, N.C. – Western Carolina women's soccer made the most of its opportunities on Wednesday night as the Catamounts used a pair of second-half goals to triumph 3-2 over the N.C. State Wolfpack in a thrilling nonconference showdown at Dail Soccer Field.

Despite being outshot 23-6 on the night, WCU came away with its first win over an ACC opponent in program history. Of their 23 shots, the Wolfpack posted 10 shots on goal to the Catamounts' three, each finding the back of the net.

The Catamounts advance to 2-2-1 on the season and are set to host #2 Tennessee as part of First Bank – First Weekend on August 31. N.C. State falls to 0-4-1 and is set to travel to Utah to battle the Utes on the 31st.

The road team struck first in what eventually became a high-flying shootout, with the Wolfpack opening the night aggressively with five shots, two on target, in the opening 15 minutes of the match. The pace of play slowed following the initial surge, but N.C. State's Daisy Duda fired a picture-perfect pass to a streaking Jade Bordeleau for the latter's first goal of the season.  
Western Caroilna's Gabriela Vatrano picked an opportune moment to notch her first career goal, though, capitalizing on an Ava Robitaille pickpocket to maintain possession deep in Wolfpack territory. The sophomore Catamount sprinted to the far right of the box, fending off defenders before blasting a high-arching shot over the outstretched arm of goalkeeper Emily Earles to even the score. The two teams went into the locker room tied at one apiece, despite WCU being outshot 11-3 through the first 45 minutes.  

The Catamounts struck first and early in the second half, with reigning Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year Ava Robitaille flashing the offensive footwork in the 93 seconds out of the break. Freshman Addison Davis played a ball over the top into the box, looking for Malia Roberts to finish with a header. The ball drifted over Roberts, though, and past an initial scrum in front of N.C. State keeper Earles, who charged for the loose ball. The space vacated by the goalie gifted Robitaille an open look as the Catamounts took a 2-1 advantage.  

N.C. State evened the match in the 65th minute, with Bordeleau again striking for the Wolfpack for the second two-goal night of her career. Again assisted by Duda, the Pack lofted a corner kick to the back post where Bordeleau drifted outside the Catamount defenders before charging the net for an open shot.

Seemingly destined for her second career hat-trick, Bordeleau had a near goal less than a minute later, redirecting a cross up against the crossbar and down into the arms of Leanne Trudel on a bounce. Trudel picked up three more saves over the final 25 minutes, collecting eight on the night, which stands as the second most in a winning effort of her career, trailing only nine collected in a 2-0 win over Chattanooga in 2023.  

Vatrano's career night wasn't quite over as Milla Syska fed the Denver, N.C. product far down the sideline late into the match. Vatrano, despite physical play from the Wolfpack defense, sprinted into position before firing a perfectly placed cross to an awaiting Sofia Goclowski who beat the flailing keeper for the game-winning goal in the 86th minute.

The Wolfpack pushed aggressively in the final minutes, but were denied a true shot attempt by the Catamount defense as WCU left the triangle with a 3-2 victory.  

Catamount Notables:

• The 3-2 win over N.C. State was WCU's first victory over an ACC opponent in program history.  
• The win is also the first against a Power 4 opponent for the Catamounts since a 1-0 victory over #20 South Carolina in 2008.
• The three goals scored by the Catamounts were the most conceded to a SoCon team by the Wolfpack since Furman earned a 3-1 win over N.C. State in 2000.
• The Catamounts converted all three of their shots on goal in the win, their first time doing so since a 4-1 victory over Wofford in 2018.  
• The 23 shots conceded to the Wolfpack are the most of the season and the most allowed to a Catamount opponent since #11 Clemson took 26 in 2023.
• Gabriela Vatrano notched her first career goal and her first career assist in the win. The sophomore posted a game-tying goal in the 40th minute before recording the game-tying assist in the 85th minute.
• WCU has scored 80+ minute goals in back-to-back matches, with Kylie White scoring in the 83rd against Lipscomb. The Catamounts accomplished the same feat last season, with Becca Campbell scoring in the 87th minute vs. Queens and Naya Marcil scoring in the 90th minute vs Longwood.
• Reigning SoCon Defensive Player of the Year Ava Robitaille recorded the second goal of her career and the first since a 5-0 win over Wofford in 2023
• Sofia Goclowski scored her second game-winning goal of the season and the fourth of her career.  
• Leanne Trudel picked up eight saves in the 3-2 victory, the second-most in a match in her career and in a win of her career.

Coming off back-to-back road matches, the competition gets stiffer as Western Carolina returns home to host the highest-ranked home opponent in program history in the #2 Tennessee Lady Volunteers.

The August 31 matchup is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start as a part of First Bank First Weekend. WCU will celebrate "Beach Night" against the nationally-ranked Lady Vols at 6 p.m. The first 300 fans through the gates will receive a FREE pair of WCU Malibu sunglasses, courtesy of First Bank.

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