Duke Falls, 4-3, To Kansas In UAB Nike Classic

Sunday, September 10

Birmingham, Ala.

12 p.m.

Duke University

4-2

Kansas

4-1

#10/11 Duke

Kansas

Get To Know Darby Kroyer With Inside Access

Duke Falls, 4-3, To Kansas In UAB Nike Classic

9/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

BIRMINGHAM, ALA.-- The 12th-ranked Duke Women's Soccer team allowed four goals over the final 24 minutes on Sunday as Kansas knocked off the Blue Devils, 4-3, on the final day of the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) Nike Classic at the West Campus Field in Birmingham, Ala.

Duke (4-2) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Sunday as senior Darby Kroyer scored just one minute and 39 seconds into the contest. Kroyer, a native of San Ramon, Calif., nailed a free kick from 30-yards out that bent into the goal. The goal was Kroyer's 19th of her career.

“We started the game off well and were very prepared,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. “When we came out, we created some nice opportunities and getting the goal early by Darby was a real boost. Overall, our first half was really solid.”

The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Blue Devils at the end of the first half with Duke holding a 5-3 shot advantage.

In the second half, Duke went ahead 2-0 after sophomore Lorraine Quinn sent in a shot at goal that hit the post and came back to senior Sarah McCabe, who found the back of the net for her third goal of the season. McCabe, out of Sarasota, Fla., scored for the second straight contest and now owns 22 career goals, which ranks in sole possession of 10th on Duke's all-time scoring list.

Kansas (4-1) would not back down as five minutes later senior Holly Gault took a long pass from Jessica Bush and beat Duke goalkeeper Allison Lipsher with a shot to the near side at the 66:13 mark. The Blue Devils responded by taking a 3-1 advantage at the 68:53 mark as Kroyer bent a perfect ball to freshman KayAnne Gummersall, who was able to beat the Jayhawk goalkeeper, Julie Hanley, for her third goal of the season.

After taking a 3-1 lead, Duke let its guard down and Kansas made the Blue Devils pay as eight seconds after Gummersall's goal the Jayhawks sent a long pass to Gault, who beat a Duke defender and tapped in her second goal of the match at the 69:01 mark.

“In the second half, we scored to go up 2-0 but Kansas was able to come back and scored five minutes later to cut the lead to 2-1,” said Church. “Over the final 24 minutes, we just let down our guard, got hesitant and let to many services behind our backs. Kansas got the momentum and we were very tentative. They came right at us.”

Kansas remained on the attack and 12 minutes later the Jayhawks evened the scored at 3-3 as Monica Dolinsky and Kim Boyer played a give-and-go down the near side of the field deep in Duke territory. After receiving the ball outside the box, Boyer return the pass setting up Dolinsky perfectly to tie the match.

The Jayhawks received the winning goal with 26 seconds remaining in regulation as freshman Shannon McCabe posted her first career goal. McCabe made a long run into the box following a goal kick and received a pass from Dolinsky. McCabe then beat a Duke defender to the ball and flipped a shot over Lipsher from just inside the 18-yard box.

“Looking back, we did some things better than our loss to Connecticut and attacked the ball really well,” said Church. “Giving up three goals in the last 20 minutes was just a killer. We are still improving but is a work in progress.”

For the game, Kansas outshot Duke 11-9 as the Jayhawks outshot the Blue Devils 8-4 in the second half. In goal for Duke, Lipsher finished with two saves and allowed four goals for the first time since her freshman season in 2004. The Blue Devils lost for the second straight Sunday and allowed 20 shots in the two losses.

After playing on the road for the past two weekends, the Blue Devils will return home next weekend to host the annual Duke adidas Classic on Sept. 15 & 17 at Koskinen Stadium. On Friday, Sept. 15 sixth-ranked North Carolina will take on 17th-ranked Marquette at 5:30 p.m. followed by Duke vs. 19th-ranked Florida. On Sunday, the Tar Heels will face the Gators at 12:00 p.m. and the Blue Devils will battle the Golden Eagles at 2:30 p.m.

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