The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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60 ■ THE WOLFPACKER comed addition this season. Redshirt soph- omore forward Jackie Stengel returns after suffering a season-ending knee injury three games into the 2014 campaign. Stengel was a third-team All-ACC performer her fresh- man year and will be an immediate leader for the young Wolfpack. "She came back in the spring and picked up where she left off," Santoro said. "She had a good summer, and she definitely is a leader on the team. She has set the tone in the right way. To me, it's like adding another new player." Santoro expects Stengel to reclaim her All-ACC form and help the Wolfpack of- fense, which suffered through nine shutouts last season. "She has the potential to definitely be an All-ACC performer," Santoro said. "But that is the last thing on her mind. She wants to help us become a top-25 team and make the NCAA Tournament." The Wolfpack will look to various play- ers to add to their offensive attack. Senior Caroline Gentry and Blackwood could complement Stengel at forward, and add some scoring punch this season. "Stengel and Blackwood jump out to me right now," Santoro said. "We have the po- tential to get some goals from the midfield as well." Santoro could end up trying some play- ers in new positions to get the best fit. Sophomore Cailyn Boch and redshirt ju- nior Dayna Tomayko could be making the move from defense to the midfield this sea- son. Junior Rachel Cox also returns to the squad after a one-year absence, and Cor- dova is a creative and skilled midfielder. NC State's defense is likely the biggest question mark going into the season. Se- nior defender Jenna Kalwa, a former Penn State transfer, was named co-captain with Stengel. Kalwa, junior Alyson Brown and sophomore Mackenzie Graybill will help anchor the defense and make life easier for redshirt junior goalie Mackenzie Stelljes. "We are going to lean on that older group for leadership," Santoro said. "Our return- ing group will be the key to what we do this year. We have a very good freshman class, but I'd never rely on them to be the make or break of our season." Stelljes has 30 starts during her NC State career after arriving from Iona. The 5-9 goalie allowed 2.04 goals per game and had a .713 save percentage last year. "The goalie position is going to be four deep, and there will be a lot of competi- tion," Santoro said. "We have someone that has been through the wars. We have never played four, but we always have had two. We have choices." Santoro is realistic — and optimistic — about the upcoming season. "We are still in the rebuilding stage of this program," Santoro said. "We have made strides. I think we have a chance to be a lot more relevant this year." ■ Key Players To Watch Redshirt sophomore forward Jackie Stengel —The Melbourne, Fla., native was missed last year, after she suffered a season-ending knee injury against Georgetown in the third match of the campaign Aug. 29. The co- captain was third-team All-ACC and earned a spot on the all-freshman squad in the league in 2013. The 5-9 Stengel led NCSU in goals (nine), points (19), shots on goal (23) and shots (45) as a freshman. She was the No. 33 overall forward in the country per TopDrawerSoccer.com in the class of 2013. Senior forward Brittany Stanko — The Glenmoore, Pa., product was in a three-way tie for second on the team with six points last year, courtesy of two goals and two assists. Stanko enters her senior year with 12 career goals and four assists for 28 points. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Stelljes — The Charlotte native started at goalie for the second straight year for the Wolfpack. The 5-9 Stelljes went 2-11-1 and posted a 2.04 goals-against average and .713 save percentage last fall. The former Iona transfer had a 1.69 goals-against average and .761 save percentage for the Wolfpack in 2013. STANKO ■ By The Numbers 3 Wins in six spring matches. NC State defeated Campbell, East Carolina and Coastal Carolina, all in one-goal games. The Wolfpack lost to South Carolina and Old Dominion, and tied Wake Forest. 997 Score for the Academic Progress Rate (APR) for the program, which is almost perfect. The mark tied for highest score in the ACC among women's soccer programs and was 33rd in the NCAA. 1,140 Attendance for last year's 2-1 home loss to then-No. 9 North Carolina. NCSU, which averaged 600 fans per home match, inex- plicably doesn't play its rival this fall. Noting The Pack • Senior forward and Raleigh native Carolina Gentry is the younger sister of former NC State football players Taylor Gentry and Zach Gentry. The former 2011 North Carolina Prep Player of the Year has amassed six goals and six assists for 18 points in 55 career games. • NC State lost a pair of players after one year in the program. Franziska Jaser signed a profes - sional contract with SC Freiburg of the Women's Bundesliga. The native of Burgau, Germany, started 17 straight contests and had three assists, playing mostly on defense. Leading scorer Kayla Saager transferred to Big 12 champion West Virginia after her freshman year. She had five goals and one assist for 11 points. • U.S. women's National Team coach Jill Ellis started her coaching career in 1988 at NC State. The former William & Mary standout was a gradu - ate assistant for the Wolfpack under then head coach Larry Gross for two years. Ellis guided the U.S. squad to a gold medal this summer in the FIFA Women's World Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Mackenzie Stelljes, who has already made 30 starts during her Wolf- pack career, posted a 2.04 goals-against average and .713 save percentage in 2014. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP