COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The NC State women’s soccer team dropped a road decision at conference foe Maryland Thursday night, falling by a final score of 3-0 at Ludwig Field.

 

Freshman goalkeeper Karly Gustafson (Fayetteville, N.C.) made a career-high 10 saves in the loss. This marked the first time in 2013 that an NC State goalkeeper made more than eight saves in a match.

 

“We’re still searching for that consistent 90-minute performance,” said head coach Tim Santoro. “We’re really good for stretches. We played a very good first half but we gave up that late goal and I think it affected us in the second half.”

 

Following some early pressure by the Terrapins, NC State (6-7, 1-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) answered back with a strong spell of possession. From the 11th-15th minutes of the first half, the Wolfpack generated two shots and earned one corner kick.

 

“We adjusted a few things in our preparation and our warm-ups,” Santoro added. “That was fine. The problem was we were slow to start the second half.”

 

Maryland was able to open the scoring in the 37th minute through a scramble in the box immediately resulting from a corner kick. Megan Gibbons swung in the corner and Lauren Berman directed it towards goal with a header. Following a few deflections in the penalty area, Natasha Ntone Kouo was just able to poke it past Gustafson and across the goal line to give the home side a 1-0 advantage.

 

The Terrapins (7-5, 3-3 ACC) doubled their advantage in the 46th minute, taking a 2-0 lead when Hayley Brock scored her ninth goal of the season. The forward was rushing through the NC State penalty area when she received a cross from Gibbons and struck a one-time volley into the top corner from six yards out.

 

Six minutes later, Maryland was able to make it 3-0 on a long-range effort from Aubrey Baker. The sophomore looped in a dangerous ball from 25 yards out and it was perfectly placed, just narrowly finding its way inside the far post.

 

NC State will be back in action on Thursday, Oct. 10 at current No. 6 North Carolina. The Wolfpack and Tar Heels will kick off in Chapel Hill at 7 p.m. with the match being broadcast live to a national audience on ESPN3.

 

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