Pack still looking for answers up front

One of the most glaringly missing pieces of N.C. State's soccer weekend was the presence of former Wolfpack forwards Aaron King and Bryant Salter performing their customary kneel-down prayer just before kickoff.

State is forced to replace two of the most prolific goal scorers in school history, and the team's inability to fill that offensive gap became readily apparent in the Pack's first two games.

With one goal in 180 minutes of play and limited threats posed to the St. Francis and Hartford goalkeepers, fans quickly became aware that King and Salter are gone.

After defeating St. Francis Sunday 1-0, the Pack could not put one in the net against Hartford, falling 2-0.

Last season had been labeled as the season when everything was supposed to come together. With All-ACC keeper Jorge Gonzalez, captain John Queeley, King and Salter -- all seniors last season, the Pack went 11-7-1, good enough for an NCAA Tournament berth.

With a new keeper and a new set of offensive weapons, the Pack has to mature and find playmakers quickly if it wants to contend in the deadly ACC.

But the Pack does have options.

Junior forward El Hadj Cisse has shown signs of brilliance throughout his career in support of King and Salter, providing some of State's most exciting plays over the last two years.

Argentinean midfielders Santiago Fusilier and Ernesto Di Laudo have matured together and have become leaders on an inexperienced team.

Freshman Sean Campbell, who bears Salter's old No. 9 jersey, was impressive in his first two collegiate games, scoring the Pack's lone weekend goal on a header in the middle of the penalty box from a Hugh Cronin cross.

Then there's sophomore Ronnnie Bouemboue.

Bouemboue became a sparkplug for the Pack when it became lackadaisical at times last season. He was second on the team in assists and fourth in goals last season, and gave Pack fans hope for the seasons to come.

But Bouemboue has yet to practice with the team this season due to recent surgery for a leg injury.

"We've got to get Ronnie Bouemboue back as fast as we can," coach George Tarantini said. "He's my score guy."

Tarantini was mum on the details of Bouemboue's injury, saying he didn't want to make excuses for the Pack's weekend, meaning those unaffiliated with the team know nothing about his expected return date.

But Tarantini agreed that getting Bouemboue back as soon as possible is crucial to the Pack's early season success -- a season that loses its early status quickly with a match against North Carolina looming only two weeks away.

State has two more matches -- facing South Florida and American University -- next weekend before the ACC schedule begins. If the team is to find any success in the wake of losing last year's stars, it must find a playmaker.

And let's hope that the eventual return of Bouemboue is imminent and not over-hyped.