Blue Devils Open ACC With 3-1 Victory Over Virginia Tech

Thursday, September 21

Blacksburg, Va.

7 p.m.

Duke University

5-3-1, 1-0-0ACC

Virginia Tech

4-3-1, 0-1-0ACC

#--/24 Duke

Virginia Tech

Blue Devils Open ACC With 3-1 Victory Over Virginia Tech

9/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

BLACKSBURG, VA. ? The 24th-ranked Duke Women's Soccer team opened Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) action on Thursday with a 3-1 victory over Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. The Blue Devils move to 5-3-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play, while the Hokies fall to 4-3-1, 0-1.

“I am thrilled with the win,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. “Overall, we played very well and it is great to get an ACC win on the road to start league play. In the first half, I thought we did a good job of controlling the ball and we finished when we had good opportunities.”

For the second straight contest, Duke registered a goal in the first 10 minutes to take an early lead. On Thursday evening, senior Darby Kroyer sent a shot at the goal in the seventh minute, which hit the crossbar. Fellow senior Sarah McCabe grabbed the rebound and fired in her team-best fourth goal of the season. McCabe, a product of Sarasota, Fla., now owns 23 career goals, which ranks tied for eighth on Duke's all-time goals list.

“It was really nice getting the early goal,” said Kroyer. “After stressing all week to stay focused for the entire match, it was good we didn't let down tonight even after we scored the third goal in the second half.”

The Blue Devils were on the attack in the 34th and 35th minute as senior Lauren Tippets sent two corner kicks into the box. On the second corner kick, freshman CJ Ludemann sent a shot at the goal that was blocked, but freshman Elisabeth Redmond gathered the ball and hit the back of the net for her second goal of the season from two yards, which gave Duke a 2-0 advantage.

Virginia Tech held a 9-8 shot lead at the end of the first half, but the Blue Devils were ahead 2-0 on the scoreboard.

“We talked at halftime about staying consistent and finding the third goal,” said Church. “I thought we played the first 20 minutes of the second period fantastic. We are getting better, but still have things to work on.”

The Hokies came out to start the second half and nearly cut into the Duke lead as Lindsay Alexander fired a shot towards the goal that hit the crossbar in the 47th minute.

The Blue Devils came back on the attack taking the next six shots and on the seventh shot attempt freshman KayAnne Gummersall beat a Hokie defender and goalkeeper Ashley Owens for her fourth goal of the season, off an assist from sophomore Lorraine Quinn.

Virginia Tech didn't back down as the Hokies got on the board four minutes later as Julian Johnson sent a throw-in to Laurie Beth Puglisi, who headed in her fourth goal of the year.

Duke finished the contest with a 17-12 shot advantage and in goal for the Blue Devils junior Alison Lipsher finished with three saves.

“We have been getting unlucky during the last few matches,” said Kroyer. “To get the win on the road to start ACC play and to score three goals gives us a confidence boost. All three goals we scored tonight were hard-working goals.”

The Blue Devils now improve to 3-0 all-time against Virginia Tech and Head Coach Kelly Cagle. Cagle is the former Kelly Walbert, who was a three-time All-America at Duke. Cagle holds the Blue Devil all-time goals record of 47 and all-time points record of 117.

Duke will next travel to Charlottesville, Va., for a 2:00 p.m. contest against eighth-ranked Virginia on Sunday. The Cavaliers improved to 6-2-1 on Thursday with a 2-1 victory over Wake Forest.

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