18th-ranked Blue Devils Fall, 5-1, To 12th-ranked Florida In Nike Carolina Classic

Sunday, September 5

Chapel Hill, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

3-1

Florida

2-2

Duke University

#12/5 Florida

18th-ranked Blue Devils Fall, 5-1, To 12th-ranked Florida In Nike Carolina Classic

9/5/2004 1:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

Sept. 5, 2004

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - In a much closer game than the final score indicates, the 18th-ranked Duke women's soccer team lost a 5-1 decision to 12th-ranked Florida (3-1) on Sunday in the final day of the Nike Carolina Classic at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Blue Devils fall to 2-2 on the season and will next travel to Honolulu, Hawaii for two contests on Sept. 10-11 against Hawaii and Long Beach State. Duke will first take on Hawaii followed by Long Beach State with both match times scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Duke made two mistakes early in the first half, which cost the Blue Devils two goals as Florida went up 2-0 in the first 18 minutes of the contest. Ashley Kellgren and Christine Johnson each tallied goals for the Gators at the 7:31 and 17:38 marks, respectively. In-between Florida goals, the Blue Devils had an excellent scoring opportunity in the 15th minute as sophomore Darby Kroyer missed a 25-yard free kick as the ball sailed high over the cross bar. The Blue Devils responded to the second goal by Florida with a goal of their own as sophomore Rebecca Moros found junior Heidi Hollenbeck for a header in front of the goal at the 18:28 mark. Hollenbeck, a native of Hartland, Wis., was playing in her 41st career game collected her first collegiate goal. At the end of the first half, Duke led Florida in shots, 6-3, but the Gators hit two of their shots to lead 2-1. In a very physical first half, the Gators held an 11-10 foul advantage. "I thought we had a really good first half," said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. "We made two mistakes in the first half and they punished us for two goals. I thought we dominated the first 90 minutes and I thought we played the best soccer we have played in a long time." Duke came out firing in the second half as senior Casey McCluskey and freshman Lorraine Quinn each had point-blank scoring opportunities but could not put the ball in the back of the net. Then, at the 58:16 mark Quinn was fouled hard by Melanie Booth and had to leave the game with a concussion. A native of Farmingdale, N.Y., Quinn did not return to the match after the injury. "To start the second half, we had two great scoring opportunities to tie the game and when we didn't tie the game Florida was relieved," said Church. "Then, Florida took it to us the rest of the game." Florida's Kellgren added her second goal of the match off a corner kick from Booth at the 71:20 mark of the second half to give the Gators a 3-1 lead. After the third goal, the Blue Devils switched their formation to having only three defenders back to try to create some scoring opportunities. With this change in formation, Florida added two goals in a span of seven minutes to finish with a 5-1 ledger. Adding goals for the Gators were Stephanie Freeman and Kellgren. Kellgren finished the match with a hat trick and now has four goals on the year. Overall, Florida finished with a 13-11 shot advantage as the Gators outshot the Blue Devils 10-5 in the second half. Florida also led in fouls with a difference of 22-19. In goal for the Blue Devils, freshman Allison Lipsher took the loss as she finished with four saves in 90 minutes of play, while Brittni Goodwin collected the win with two saves in 90 minutes. "I am shocked with the outcome of the game, to be honest with you," said Church. "I thought we were going to win the game going into the second half, but I have to take my hat off to Florida. After playing Carolina on Friday night, coming out here their commitment level was much larger than our commitment level in the second half. Florida started winning first balls and second balls, while we quit working." - d - u - k - e -