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North Carolina State University

WSOC: NC State earns weekend sweep with comeback win at LSU

Aug 26, 2012

Baton Rouge, La. — A come-from-behind 2-1 victory by the NC State women's soccer team over LSU on Sunday afternoon gave the Wolfpack a critical weekend sweep of a two-game road trip that also included a 1-0 win at Texas on Friday night.

A steamy Sunday afternoon in Louisiana ended up being a historical one as the Wolfpack won back-to-back non-conference road matches for the first time since 2000. More Info     More NCSU Stories

“We showed a ton of fight and found away to stick a few in the net,” said head coach Steve Springthorpe. “To be able to go on the road and play two NCAA caliber teams and come away with two wins is a great start for our program.”

The comeback was complete when Cheyenne Spade finished on a volley following a free kick into the box by Shelli Spamer, for a 2-1 lead. The game winner came in the 52nd minute and was the second collegiate goal for the sophomore from Richfield, Pa.

Red-shirt sophomore goalie Victoria Hopkins made six saves to preserve the victory and improve the Wolfpack to 2-2 on the young season.

“The team battled and responded at a place that is tough to play,” added Springthorpe. It was incredibly hot down here today and I’m just proud of how we played.

“It was a team game, but Vic(toria Hopkins) was big the last 20 minutes. She made game saving plays for us.”

With the quick turnaround from Friday's night game at Texas, and the hot and humid conditions in today's match, Springthorpe substituted liberally in the first half and that paid off for the equalizer in the 38th minute.

After LSU (1-1-1) took a lead in the 18th minute from Carlie Banks, NC State freshman Shannon Colligan netted her first collegiate goal to knot the game at 1-all heading to intermission.

The Greenwich, Conn., native was inserted into the game just minutes before her goal, and that decision paid came to fruition when her shot came as a rebound effort after the initial shot by Shelli Spamer bounded off the crossbar at the 37:43 mark of the opening half.

Banks put LSU on the board in the 28th minute when she buried a centering pass from teammate Nini Anderson from 14 yards out.

NC State returns home for the next three matches, beginning with a Friday showdown with The Citadel at Dail Soccer Field at 7 p.m.