18th-Ranked Duke Downs 19th-ranked Wake Forest, 2-0, In Women's Soccer Action

Sunday, September 26

Winston-Salem, N.C.

6:00 p.m.

Duke University

8-2

Wake Forest

6-3-1

#18 Duke University

#19/23 Wake Forest

18th-Ranked Duke Downs 19th-ranked Wake Forest, 2-0, In Women's Soccer Action

9/26/2004 1:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

Sept. 26, 2004

Box Score

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.--The 18th-ranked Duke women's soccer team opened Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) action on Sunday evening with a 2-0 victory over 19th-ranked Wake Forest at Spry Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Blue Devils improve to 8-2 overall and 1-0 in ACC play, while Wake Forest falls to 6-3-1.

This was a typical ACC game as there wasn't very many scoring opportunities," said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. "We had two good scoring opportunities in the first half and we were able to bury them."

Senior Casey McCluskey led the Duke charge once again as the Springfield, Va., product gave Duke a 1-0 advantage at the 13:02 mark in the first half as she dribbled through Demon Deacon defenders and blasted a high shot into the corner of the net past Wake Forest goalkeeper Heather Currie.

The goal for McCluskey marks the fifth straight game she has scored a goal and now has 11 total on the season, which is a new career high for the forward. McCluskey has also registered five straight game-winning goals for the Blue Devils.

Duke wasted no time obtaining a second goal on the evening as in the 28th minute McCluskey found sophomore Rebecca Moros on a perfect cross. Moros, a native of Larchmont, N.Y., nailed a shot that hit the far post and went in the goal from 21 yards out.

Wake Forest came out in the second half and put some very tough pressure on Duke, but the Blue Devils were able to weather the storm by the Demon Deacons.

"The second half reminded me a lot of the Tennessee game, but we were able to hold off Wake Forest and that means we are getting better," said Church. "We didn't have many scoring opportunities in the second half until the final 20 minutes of the match."

In goal for the Blue Devils was freshman Allison Lipsher, who picked up her fifth victory over the season and fourth shutout. She finished with one save on the evening. For the game, Duke outshot Wake Forest, 13-4.

The Blue Devil defense collected their sixth straight shutout and now has eight total shutouts on the season.

"This was a huge win to open ACC play with at Wake Forest," said Church. "Wake Forest is going to win some games and they are always tough to play at home. Now we have to move on and get prepared for a very tough Florida State team on Friday."

Duke will next host 12th-ranked Florida State on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Koskinen Stadium.