McCluskey, Duke Cruise Past Georgia, 3-0, In Duke adidas Classic

Friday, September 17

Durham, N.C.

7:40 PM

Duke University

5-2-0

Georgia

2-2-2

Georgia

#22 Duke University

McCluskey, Duke Cruise Past Georgia, 3-0, In Duke adidas Classic

9/17/2004 1:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

Sept. 17, 2004

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C.--Behind senior Casey McCluskey's second straight two-goal performance, the 22nd-ranked Duke women's soccer team notched a 3-0 victory over Georgia in the Duke adidas Soccer Classic on a wet Friday evening at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C. The Blue Devils improve to 5-2, while Georgia falls to 2-2-2.

For the second straight game, McCluskey collected two goals in the first half to lead the Blue Devils to a 2-0 lead after the first 45 minutes of action. Her two-goal performance marks the eighth time in her career she has posted two goals in a contest. She moves her career goals scored total to 29, which is now third place on Duke's all-time list. McCluskey also already has 10 points on the season to move her to 65 for her career, which ranks sixth all-time on the Blue Devil list.

"We have moved Casey into the attacking position over the last three games," said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. "She is going forward and finishing some balls well. We haven't had a consistent scorer game in and game out in a long time. With how our team is defending and attacking, if we continue to keep getting that we are going to be a very dangerous team."

A native of Springfield, Va., McCluskey posted her first goal of the game at the 25:59 mark after a beautiful give and go from sophomore Rebecca Moros and junior Carolyn Riggs, up the right side of the field. Moros was able to find McCluskey in front of the net, who blasted a shot into the right side of the goal past Georgia goalkeeper Ashley Lindley.

Duke added its second goal of the contest in the 37th minute as junior Carolyn Ford sent a long pass down the field off a free kick. McCluskey settled the ball in front of the net and then beat Lindley for an open net.

"Georgia played their defensive line up very, very high, but didn't have the speed in the back to keep up with us," said McCluskey. "I was very fortunate to catch two of the better balls, which were both spectacular passes by Moros and Ford."

At the end of the first half, Duke held a 9-1 shot advantage over the Bulldogs.

The Blue Devils added a third goal of the match just seven minutes into the second half as Moros found junior Shelly Marshall, who sent a shot in from 18 yards out that hit the post and went in the goal. The goal for Marshall, a product of Arcadia, Calif., was her second of the season, while Moros registered her second assist of the match.

Duke's defense was once again stellar led by freshman Allison Lipsher and senior Kate Straka, who each finished with one save in goal. The shutout for the Blue Devils marks the fifth time this season Duke has not allowed a goal in a match.

"I am feeling very good about our defense right now," said Church. "Our defense starts with our forwards, midfielders, backs and goalkeeper. We are defending well and if we can continue to put zeros on the board we are going to win a lot of soccer games."

For the game, Duke outshot Georgia by an 18-3 ledger. The Blue Devils also held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

In the first match of the afternoon, North Carolina defeated Furman, 5-0, led by goals from five different players. Adding goals for the Tar Heels were Kendall Fletcher, Heather O'Reilly, Lindsay Tarpley, Katie Brooks and Robyn Gayle.

The Duke adidas Classic will conclude on Sunday with top-ranked North Carolina taking on Georgia at 1:00 p.m., while Duke will battle Furman at 3:30 p.m.

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