58 ■ THE WOLFPACKER
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BY MATT CARTER
U
nder head coach Tim Santoro, the Wolfpack wom-
en's soccer program has been enjoying a resur-
gence.
After a 19-year absence from the NCAA Tourna-
ment, NC State has been back for three straight seasons, includ-
ing reaching the Sweet 16 twice. It has registered three straight
winning records after having just three in the prior 19 seasons.
There was a time, though, when the women's soccer team
was among the country's elite. In 1988, the team went 19-2-3
overall and 3-0-1 in the ACC, won the conference title in the
league's first-ever tournament and made it all the way to the
NCAA championship game. A year later, the Pack was back
in the Final Four.
And arguably the star player on those talented teams was
Linda Hamilton, who 30 years ago became NC State's one and
In 1988, Hamilton was tabbed as NC State's first — and only, to date — ACC Player of the Year in women's soccer.
PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS
LINDA
HAMILTON
