No. 19 Women's Soccer Readies for Pivotal Game Versus No. 21 Florida State
Wolfpack seeks to reclaim top spot in ACC


Oct. 18, 2002

The NC State women's soccer team will host No. 21 Florida State on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Method Road Soccer Field. Kick-off is set for 2 p.m. The Seminoles, now 7-4-3 overall and 1-2-1 in the ACC, is looking for its first win in North Carolina. The Wolfpack stands at 8-4-1 and 2-1-1 in ACC action and is set to take the pitch against its fifth, ranked team this season.

Florida State is 2-2 against ranked teams, with one of the losses coming from a 5-1 deficit versus No. 2 North Carolina on Oct. 15. Prior to that loss, the squad fell to No. 7 Wake Forest, 3-2. Despite the two shortcomings, FSU has managed some significant wins, including a 2-1 polishing of No. 21 Florida and a 4-3 score against No. 17 Clemson. The Seminoles' have been paced by a three-some of powerful forwards, among them is senior Cindy Schofield. She has set four FSU career records, including points (76), goals (29) and game-winning goals (7). This season, she leads the team in points (16) and goals (6). Joining Schofield in the attack is sophomore Jez Ratliff and freshman Leah Gallegos. The trio has accounted for 16 goals and 40 points this season. Standing between the posts is sophomore Kerry York. The netminder enters the contest with a 7-3-3 record, which shadows a 1.6 goals against average and two shutouts. FSU is led defensively by seniors Meredith Jones and Ashlee Fontes, junior Kristin Boyce and freshman Teresa Rivera. The line has held opponents to just seven shots on goal and 13.5 shots per game.

NC State, a team who has gone from one end of the spectrum to the other over the last week, looks to reclaim its stake in the ACC. Now in second place in the ACC standings, the Wolfpack needs a win to maintain its position. The Wolfpack fell to the Duke Blue Devils on Tuesday, 3-0, after upsetting then No.1 North Carolina, 2-1, on Oct. 10. NC State is 2-0-1 against ranked opponents this season, having also defeated then No.23 Maryland and tying then No.7 Wake Forest.

Aided by a paucity of injuries thus far, NC State has a more potent scoring threat in 2002. Seniors Adrienne Barnes and Jordan Allison and junior Lindsey Underwood all have six goals, while sophomore Annika Schmidt has netted five. The Wolfpack has already outscored its opponents 31-15, surpassing its goal total in 2001. The defense has also stepped up its play this season, limiting opponents to under seven shots on goal and 13.1 shots per game. The Pack's play on defense, including the play of senior netminder Gretchen Lear has been a key factor for NC State this season. Lear, who is in the middle of a stellar season, earned several accolades for her play against North Carolina last week. The Springfield, Va. native was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week, the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week, as well as ACC Player of the Week. Lear posts a 1.22 goals against average and an 8-4-1 record on the season.

This will be the eighth meeting between the Wolfpack and the Seminoles. NC State leads the series 3-2-2. Florida State won the last meeting, 2-1 in overtime, on Sept. 23 in Tallahassee.


NC State Women's Soccer


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No. 19 Women's Soccer Drops Second-Straight with 5-1 Loss to No. 21 Florida State
Junior Lindsey Underwood nets the lone goal for the Wolfpack.


Oct. 19, 2002

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State women's soccer team (8-5-1, 2-2-1) was upset by the Seminoles of Florida State (8-4-3, 2-2-1), 5-1 at Method Road Soccer Stadium this afternoon. This is the Seminoles' first-ever ACC regular season road win in North Carolina. NC State has dropped its last two matches since shocking then No.1 North Carolina, 2-1 on Oct. 10.

Freshman Erica Lewis put the Seminoles up 1-0 in the 24th minute off an assist from sophomore Jez Ratliff. Ratliff dribbled down the right touchline and crossed the ball to the top of the penalty area. Lewis collected the pass, dribbled to her left and fired on the Wolfpack goal. The ball flew into the bottome right corner of the net.

Freshman Allison Ferreri added a goal for the Seminoles in the 37th minute to go up 2-0. Freshman Leah Gallegos dribbled up field and sent the ball to the far left corner. Ratliff ran on to the ball and sent it into the NC State penalty area. Ferreri one touched the ball into the goal past senior netminder Gretchen Lear.

Junior Lindsey Underwood netted her team-leading seventh goal of the season with just under two minutes to play in the first half, to pull NC State within one. Sophomore Annika Schmidt dribbled through the midfield and slipped the ball to Underwood in the Seminole penalty area. Underwood took the pass, dribbled a few yards and lifted the ball over the head of sophomore goalie Kerry York for the score.

Senior Meredith Jones placed her corner kick directly in front of the Wolfpack net, just out of the reach of NC State keeper, senior Gretchen Lear. The score stood at 3-1, until senior Cindy Schofield added a fourth goal just one minute later. Jones placed another corner kick perfectly in front of the net and had Schofield there to settle it and score. Senior Jenny Garcia one-touched the ball, but had the ball blocked by a Wolfpack defender. Fortunately for the Tribe, Lewis was there to add her second goal of the afternoon and the final score with nearly 24 minutes remaining. The ball extended just out of the reach of Lear and grazed the underside of the crossbar.


For the Wolfpack, Lear made four saves, while allowing five goals. The Seminoles had two keepers in the net, York and sophomore Joy McKenzie. York finished with three saves, with one goal, while McKenzie only played 16 minutes.


NC State will travel to Buies Creek on Wednesday, Oct. 23, for a 7 p.m. kick-off with the Campbell Camels. NC State leads the series with Campbell, 8-0. The Pack's last victory over the Camels, was a 1-0 shutout at home on Oct. 9, 2001.



Head Coach Laura Kerrigan
"I am very disappointed with the outcome of the game. I thought we had a pretty good first half, but in the second half we just didn't pay attention to detail. I applaud Florida State; they are a good team. These two losses will get us back on track."


Game Summary
1 2 F
FSU 2 3 5
NC State 1 0 1

Scoring Summary
FSU: Erica Lewis (Ratliff), 23:29
FSU: Ferreri (Ratliff, Gallegos), 43:29
NCS: Underwood (Schmidt), 43:29
FSU: Jones, 50:52
FSU: Schofield, 51:12
FSU: Lewis (Garcia), 65:33



NC State Women's Soccer


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