Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's soccer went toe-to-toe with one of the nation's last remaining unbeaten teams on Thursday night, surrendering a pair of late second-half goals as red-hot North Carolina State claimed a 2-0 victory at the Catamount Athletic Complex.
The two teams battled through a goalless first half and remained deadlocked until the 80th minute, when the surging Wolfpack attack broke the scoreless draw, netting a pair of markers over the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Yuna Aoki lobbed a pass over WCU's Alexandra Grammenopoulos, who nearly got a head on the ball, but allowed Jade Bordeleau a step. The latter turned to secure a one-on-one with Catamount keeper Amara Yetka, fired a shot low to the right of the net and just past Yetka's outstretched hand for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
NC State added another tally in the 85th minute, challenging a play that was originally whistled offside after an offering sent into the six-yard box bounced past Yetka. Though the flags went up, the Wolfpack won their challenge, securing a second goal and their seventh win of the season.
Bordeleau earned the first attack of the night for NC State, corralling a loose ball after a deflected lob in front of the net in the first five minutes. The Pack's leading scorer turned and ripped a quick shot, but Yetka denied the goal for her first of seven saves on the night.
Erika Gariepy fired one of WCU's three shots in the ninth minute, but sailed a free kick from outside the box just high over the crossbar. The Wolfpack peppered the Catamount backline, which opted for a five-defender approach, throughout the first half, though Yetka denied both of NC State's on-target shots.
Freshmen Darien Vita and Brielle Von Colln combined for WCU's best attack of the night, with Vita forcing NC State's Riley Pickels to make a tight, leaping save in the 29th minute. Pickels lost the rebound, with Von Colln shooting just high and wide.
The Wolfpack applied significant pressure in the second half, firing 16 shots and posting eight corner kicks. Yetka recorded three more saves before NC State broke the tie in the 80th minute.
WCU falls to 1-4-1 on the season, while NC State remains one of the hottest teams in the nation and is the first team to hit the seven-win mark. The Wolfpack close out their nonconference season against Campbell on Sept. 6.
Catamount Notables:
- The Catamounts held the Wolfpack scoreless through the first 80 minutes of play. NC State had previously not been shut out in the first half this season.
- NC State's two goals are tied for their fewest in a match this season.
- Goalkeeper Amara Yetka recorded her third start of the season, collecting seven saves through 90 minutes. She's denied 25 goals this season, including 19 against Power Four competition (12 vs #16 Tennessee, 7 vs NC State)
- Freshman Lauryn Smith received the starting nod and went the distance, recording the first 90-minute effort of her young career.
- Additionally, freshmen Katarina Schmidler, Alexandra Zents, and Darien Vita started against NC State. The trio of first-year Catamounts recorded at least 60 minutes of game action (Schmidler – 84, Vita – 77, Zents – 61)
- Schmidler is one of only four Catamounts to start all six matches this season, joining Samantha Whitaker, Malia Roberts, and Alexe Drolet.
Up Next for The Catamounts:
WCU hits the road to close out the nonconference season, taking on the West Georgia Wolves for a 1 p.m. kick in Carrollton, Ga., on Sept. 6. The Catamounts then travel to Oxford, Ohio, to take on Miami (OH) on Sept. 11 before opening SoCon play in Greensboro, N.C., against the UNCG Spartans on Sept. 17.
