The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/714462
50 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER I n his fourth year as NC State's women's soccer head coach, Tim Santoro has fi‑ nally assembled a roster that he can safely say has been crafted by his vision and work. One word above all describes it: young. Of the 23 players on the team, 11 are fresh‑ men and five are sophomores. That leaves just seven juniors and seniors, but that's okay according to Santoro. Part of his optimism is because the fresh‑ men and sophomores represent the first two classes that Santoro brought in during a full recruiting cycle. "In our sport we're basically two, three years out recruiting," Santoro said. "You re‑ cruit primarily freshmen and sophomores. There's a gap from when you identify them and when you get them on campus. "You recruit so far in advance, I've known about these freshmen for at least two years. Some of them committed by the end of my first year." The 2016 recruiting class should compli‑ ment the five sophomores, all of whom had significant roles when healthy last year. "Obviously we are going to be super young … but very talented," Santoro said. "I'd rather have inexperience than maybe a little shortage of talent. We definitely have talent; it's a matter how well we can jell it and can we keep them healthy. "Those factors for all teams are important. It's the most talented team we've had on paper in my era, and even probably the teams I played against at NC State when I was at Wake Forest [from 2009‑13]." Santoro was quick to note however that, "saying it and doing it are two different things." The ACC in women's soccer may consti‑ tute the most dominant sport of all genders and conferences in collegiate athletics. Eight different league members have been to the College Cup (soccer's version of the Final Four) in the past 10 years. Multiple teams have made it the last six years running. ■ PREVIEW WOMEN'S SOCCER YOUTH IS SERVED The Wolfpack Has An Overwhelmingly Freshman- And Sophomore-Laden Roster Redshirt junior forward Jackie Stengel is one of the few veterans on the team, and she has led NC State in goals scored in each of her two healthy seasons. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS ■ Key Games At South Carolina, Aug. 24 — NC State's first true road contest is a tough challenge. The Gamecocks are ranked No. 24 in the preseason coaches' poll. Vs. North Carolina, Sept. 19 — The first ACC game is a big one at home. The Heels, perennial national title contenders, are ranked No. 9 in the preseason. Vs. Clemson, Oct. 23 — The final home game of the season represents the conclusion of a brutal stretch of four games that starts at No. 9 Duke Oct. 15, at No. 1 FSU five days later and then No. 4 Virginia at home Oct. 20. Clemson was ranked No. 14 in the preseason.