RALEIGH, N.C. – Battling back from a 2-0 deficit, the NC State women’s soccer team lost a close match to visiting Boston College Sunday afternoon, falling by a final score of 3-2 at Dail Soccer Field.

McKenzie Meehan of Boston College (6-5-0, 3-2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) proved to be almost unstoppable throughout the 90 minutes, scoring all three of the Eagles’ goals in just 62 minutes on the field. 

Her offensive performance was met by a strong one from NC State’s Shelli Spamer (McMurray, Pa.), who provided an assist on each of the two Wolfpack goals. Spamer’s two assists on the afternoon bring her season total to five, tying teammate Meagan Proper (Garner, N.C.) for the team lead.

“We played 75 good minutes today,” said head coach Tim Santoro. “When you go down 2-0 in the first 15 minutes like we did Thursday, you don’t give yourself a chance to win in this conference. You can’t put in hard work like that to come back and tie a game; that hard work has got to be put in trying to give yourself the lead.”

BC got off to a strong start, hitting two early shots within the first four minutes of the match. Goalkeeper Karly Gustafson was able to stop the first attempt in the second minute, but Meehan opened the day’s scoring in the fourth minute when she tapped in a cross by teammate Stephanie McCaffrey at the back post.

Meehan was then able to double her side’s advantage in the 14th minute, scoring when teammate Coco Woeltz found her in the NC State penalty area on a throw-in. Following the throw, Meehan collected the ball and quickly turned and put it in the back of the net.

NC State (6-6-0, 1-5-0 ACC) controlled the middle portion of the match, fighting back to pull level. The Wolfpack scored its first goal of the afternoon in the 42nd minute on a tremendous service by Spamer. The junior floated in a dangerous ball from a free kick 40 yards away and Raleigh native Caroline Gentry was able to get on the end of it, rising high over the defense to head it past the goalkeeper.

The Wolfpack came out of the locker room highly motivated, and pressured the Eagles immediately. This pressure came to a head when Spamer found Brittany Stanko (Glenmore, Pa.) streaking up the right side of the field in the 57th minute. The sophomore collected the pass and was able to beat goalkeeper Alex Johnson to pull her side level at 2-2.

BC was able to reclaim its advantage in the 61st minute when Meehan completed her hat trick. Teammate Patrice Vettori played in a cross from the right corner and Meehan was able to head it past Gustafson.

NC State will next be in action on Thursday, Oct. 3 at current No. 21 Maryland. The Wolfpack and Terrapins will kick off in College Park, Md., beginning at 7 p.m.

#GoPack

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