The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1153250
SEPTEMBER 2019 ■ 83 however — goalkeeping. Junior Jessica Berlin and freshman Eden Millan will battle it out for the job, but neither has ever played in a game. Sydney Wooten exhausted her eligibility in 2018. Santoro called her "our rock for four years." "It's just the biggest unknown because it's the only position where I have zero regular-season games on my roster," San- toro said. Whomever starts can take some tips from the veterans about the season opener — NC State plays at South Carolina. ■ GREGORY D. MILLER, CPA SANDRA A. MILLER, CPA REBECCA A. RHODES, CPA Serving the accounting needs of small businesses and individuals throughout Southeastern North Carolina since 1993. • Tax Planning and Prepara on • Accoun ng and Audi ng Services • Small Business Consul ng Wilmington, NC 265 Racine Drive 910-452-5260 Burgaw, NC 105 East Fremont Street 910-259-4644 www.millercocpas.com We're Pack Proud! Gardner Marsh Gas Equipment Company, Inc. 8209 Brownleigh Drive 2119 Jody Road Raleigh, NC 27617 Florence, SC 29501 Ph: 919 787 8214 Ph: 843 669 3136 Ph: 800 334 9245 Ph: 800 868 8988 Fax: 800 400 2596 Fax: 843 661 5236 Web: www.gardnermarsh.com ■ Key Games • At South Carolina, Aug. 22: The Gamecocks ended last year No. 17 in the coaches' poll and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The last time NC State went to Columbia the current seniors were freshmen and lost 3-0. • At Georgetown, Aug. 25: The Wolfpack aren't duck - ing competition. After opening with South Carolina, NC State travels to Washington, D.C., to play George- town, which was No. 4 in the final coaches' poll and made it to the College Cup (college soccer's Final Four) before losing 1-0 in double overtime to UNC. • At UNC, Sept. 26: Three years ago, the current se- niors showed their potential when they stunned the Heels 1-0 in Chapel Hill in the Pack's first-ever win at Fetzer Field. The Tar Heels lost to Florida State in the national title game in 2018. Noting The Pack • One of the benefits, according to NC State head coach Tim Santoro, of the U.S. National Team win- ning its second straight World Cup is that it proves to international players that coming to America for college soccer remains a good idea. "It reaffirms with the internationals that America is the best and maybe I need to go there," Santoro noted. "In Europe you cannot get a college educa- tion and play at a high level. "Here, you can get a good education and play at a high level." • A change Santoro hopes to make this fall is utilizing the growing depth he has accumulated on the roster to avoid costly injuries that he felt has hampered NC State in the postseason. "For us, the past couple of years the health of the team has been kind of the stumbling block," Santoro said. "We have gotten to the postseason and we have been missing not just a number of players, but a number of key players." Newcomer To Watch Head coach Tim Santoro is confident that sophomore midfielder Toni Starova, a native of Prague, Czech Republic, will be a significant ad- dition. Starova played last year at Delaware and was named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association Rookie Team despite only playing eight games. She has made 10 appearances with her Full National Team, including in the 2018 Cyprus Cup, and also has experience with the Czech U17 and U19 squads.