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DURHAM, N.C. - In a battle of two top-10 ranked women's soccer teams on Sunday in the Duke adidas Women's Soccer Classic, the third-ranked UCLA Bruins (5-1-2) were able to come away with a 2-1 victory over the ninth-ranked Blue Devils (5-2-1) at Koskinen Stadium.
UCLA was able to connect on an early goal, just 22 minutes into the contest, to take a 1-0 lead as Iris Mora looped the ball over Duke goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir for her second goal of the season. The Bruins controlled the first half outshooting the Blue Devils 7-3. Duke's best chance for a goal came at the end of the first half as the Blue Devils got UCLA goalkeeper Arianna Criscione out of the goal box, but the shot by Rebecca Moros was saved by Criscione.
The second half was a different match as the Blue Devils came out with a goal of their own as freshman Lauren Tippets connected on her third goal in the last two contests at the 68 minute mark. Tippets, a Menlo Park, Calif., product, got open in front of the goal and Carolyn Riggs and Casey McCluskey were able to give it to the midfielder in perfect position for her fourth goal of the season.
"We came out tentative and didn't attack like we did against Texas, Nebraska and other good teams," said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. "For us to come out tentative, they really set the tone of the match early. For all their hard work and their setting the tone, they got a goal to put us behind the eight ball a little bit. We finally did settle it down and got a lot of energy from our subs we put in the last part of the first half. I thought that carried over in to the second half."
UCLA didn't wait long to respond as just three minutes later Stephanie Kron sent a corner kick into Mary Castelanelli for a shot, which Helgadottir saved, but the ball ended up sitting in front of the net for Lindsey Greco to tap in for her second goal of the season.
Duke managed to register three shots over the final 19 minutes, but couldn't connect on a goal. For the game, UCLA outshot Duke 13-7. Picking up her first victory in goal for the Bruins was Criscione, who finished with three saves. Helgadottir lost her first match of the season as she finished with six saves.
"You take away those first 15-20 minutes, I thought we battled them tooth and nail," said Church. "I thought we created a beautiful goal and once we got into our rhythm of the game I think we showed that we can play with just about anybody in the country."
Top-ranked North Carolina will conclude the Duke adidas Women's Soccer Classic this afternoon with a 4:30 p.m. contest against Richmond. The Blue Devils will next play at Davidson on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and then will travel to UNC Greensboro on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
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