RALEIGH, N.C. - UNCG women's soccer holds NC State scoreless on Wednesday, working to a double-overtime draw against the Wolfpack on the road in Raleigh. While State outshot the Spartans on the evening, scoring chances were relatively even and may have even tilted in favor of the visitors, as UNCG put an end to the Wolpack's three-match winning streak with a 0-0 tie. 

Less than two weeks removed from giving up two goals to High Point, the Spartan defense was well in order for all 110 minutes against NC State. While the hosts pulled the trigger seven times before the halftime whistle, only one of those attempts made it through to starter Ayianah Tyler-Cooper. Only two of NC State's shots came from inside the 18, both of which were blocked by the Spartan center back combination of Eliza Radoll and Ashley Avelino. 

UNCG's best scoring opportunity of the first half might have come at the midway point where the visitors reeled off three blocked shots from just inside the 18. The right side of the field looked dangerous throughout the course of the first 45 minutes, with right back Gracie Timbario playing multiple balls over the top of the Wolfpack defense. Jordin Mosley's overlapping runs on that side of the field forced the State defense to stretch to the wide side, yet the winger's best opportunity for a cross into the middle during the first half was collected by the NC State keeper. 

Rachel Rouse caused problems for the State defense from the moment she hit the pitch on Wednesday. Using her pace to create chances up the middle of the field, Rouse had one of the Spartans' most prime chances at tallying a goal, sending her shot from the edge of the 18 just over the bar in the 55th minute. The redshirt sophomore nearly engineered a UNCG goal just a few minutes later as well, receiving the ball on a short corner before playing a cross that went through a mass of players at the six-yard box without anyone finding the final touch. 

The Spartans continued to play up the wing in the final 30 minutes, nearly putting away the go ahead on a Maddy Gilhool cross in the 75th minute that was driven through the six-yard box untouched. 

UNCG's defense continued to hold strong against a Wolfpack offense that took 15 shots in the opening 90 minutes, forcing NC State's attempts to steer wide of Tyler-Cooper. With the score knotted in a scoreless tie after regulation, the Spartans were again outshot in the final 20 minutes of extra time, but were the only team to register a shot on target in that span. 

Freshman Caroline Woods was responsible for that Spartan shot on goal, the first of her career, in the 103rd minute. The striker received a pass 10 yards from goal but was met with contact from the Wolfpack defense, altering a shot that would fall into the State keeper's arms. A cry for a foul rang up from the Spartan faithful but the match referee responded with a wave to play on, and the match ended in a 0-0 scoreless draw at the final whistle.

>> NC State outshot the Spartans 20-7 on the night, but only had three on goal in comparison to UNCG's two shots on target
>> Keeper Aiyanah Tyler-Cooper and center back Ashley Avelino both played every minute of Wednesday's double-overtime contest, registering their team's first clean sheet of 2021
>> 18 players touched the pitch for UNCG against the Wolfpack, with forward Hannah Morton leading all Spartan non-starters at 53 minutes played

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