Duke Upsets No. 2 Ranked Clemson 1-0 in Women's Soccer

Wednesday, October 4

Winston-Salem, N.C.

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Duke University

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Duke Upsets No. 2 Ranked Clemson 1-0 in Women's Soccer

10/7/2000 1:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - Junior forward Sarah Pickens (Greensboro, N.C.) scored the biggest goal of her career in the 85th minute as the No. 12 ranked Duke Blue Devils upset the No. 2 ranked Clemson Tigers 1-0 in front of 343 fans at Koskinen Stadium. The win moves Duke into sole possesion of first place in the ACC and improves the Blue Devils to 10-2, 4-1 in the ACC, while Clemson falls to 12-1, 3-1 in the ACC.

"This was a great win for our kids," said Duke head coach Bill Hempen. "There was a point in the second half where it looked like something good was going to happen and it did."

Clemson managed to outplay Duke in the first half as they outshot Duke 6-1, but neither team found a way to score.

Duke managed to captilize off a Clemson foul late in the second half which set up the game-winning goal. Freshman forward Ali Kopfman was pulled down 30 yards out which set up a free kick for the Blue Devils. Senior midfielder Susan Kraeger (St. Louis, Mo.) lofted a cross into the box which was settled by Pickens, who went around a Clemson defender and then beat goalkeeper Katie Carson with a near post shot. The goal was Pickens' team-leading seventh of the year.

"This is pretty exciting," said Pickens. "After our loss to North Carolina, to beat Clemson is a great win."

Freshman goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir (Kopavogur, Iceland) picked up her third individual shutout of the year as she made seven saves in the victory.

Duke returns to action on Tues., Oct. 10, when the Blue Devils travel to Greensboro, N.C., to take on the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Box Score
Clemson         0     0     0
Duke            0     1     1

SCORING:
1st Half
No scoring
2nd Half
Duke: Sarah Pickens (Susan Kraeger) 85:18

SHOTS: Duke 7, Clemson 12
GOALKEEPER SAVES: Duke (Thora Helgadottir) 7, Clemson (Katie Carson) 3
CORNER KICKS: Duke 4, Clemson 5
FOULS: Duke 15, Clemson 18
CARDS: None
ATTENDANCE: 343