Gummersall Nets Last Minute Goal To Lift Duke Over Boston College, 1-0

Thursday, September 28

Durham, N.C.

7 p.m.

Duke University

6-4-1, 2-1-0ACC

Boston College

7-3-0, 1-1-0ACC

#-/26 Boston College

Duke

Gummersall Named Co-ACC Player of the Week

Gummersall Nets Last Minute Goal To Lift Duke Over Boston College, 1-0

9/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-- In a match that seemed like it would never end with two lightening delays, Duke freshman KayAnne Gummersall headed in the game-winning goal with 1:03 remaining to lift the 22nd-ranked Blue Devils, 1-0, over the 26th-ranked Eagles on Thursday evening at Koskinen Stadium.

“It was huge for us to get this win,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. “We need wins in the conference and we need wins to get to the NCAA Tournament. It was on our home field and unfortunately we had lost last time on our home field. We had to get this [win].”

In a first half that featured eight shots, including four by each team, neither team had an excellent scoring opportunity. The Blue Devils did rally over the final two minutes with three shots by Gummersall, freshman Sara Murphy and freshman CJ Ludemann, which two were saved and one went wide right.

After an hour and 55 minute delay due to lightening, play resumed after halftime.

The Blue Devils came out on the attack in the second half and had five shots over the first 20 minutes of play. Freshman Elisabeth Redmond sent two shots at the net, while senior Darby Kroyer fired two that were just high and one that was saved by Boston College goalkeeper, Sarah Buonomo.

Duke had two other excellent scoring opportunities with Buonomo out of the net in the 54th and 56th minute. Kelly Hathorn sent a feed downfield to Rebecca Moros who found Redmond, but she couldn't get a shot off. Then, sophomore Lorraine Quinn found herself just outside of the box with the keeper away from the net but the Eagle defense prevented her from getting a shot off.

With inclement weather returning, play was once again delayed for 31 minutes with Duke holding a 9-5 shot advantage.

“Obviously, it was a weird game with the breaks,” said Church. “I thought we handled it really well because I thought we dominated the first half after halftime and had two great chances to score. We took another break and came back. I was really proud of our girls as they have been through a lot of adversity this year. We had tight games, everything on the road has been a travel disaster and then coming home and having two lightening delays.”

Out of the delay, Duke's Quinn had the first shot as she sent an attempt that went just high over the left corner of the net. Quinn, a native of Farmingdale, N.Y., added another shot in the 80th and 85th minutes, but went high and were saved, respectively.

With under two minutes remaining, Boston College was called for a foul seven yards outside of the box on the left side. Moros sent a free kick at the net which Gummersall headed in from three yards out. The goal for Gummersall, who is from Wilmette, Ill., was her team-best fifth of the season. Moros notched her 20th career assist, which now ranks her tied for fourth on Duke's all-time assist chart.

“It is very exciting,” said Gummersall. “Moros played a great ball [to me]. We had a bunch of them [opportunities] in the box and that is what we have been working towards the whole season -- finishing games off. So to get a goal like that in the last minute is a huge excitement for our entire team. We definitely earned that win as we battled the whole game.”

For the game, Duke outshot Boston College, 13-6 and had the only corner kick of the match. Junior Allison Lipsher picked up the victory and collected her 21st career shutout in the match. Lipsher, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, finished the evening with three saves, while Buonomo of Boston College had five saves. Overall, the match lasted three hours and 37 minutes.

“We have needed this [win],” said Moros. “There are so many little pieces that we had to put together and I think we are hitting our stride at the right time.”

Duke improves to 6-4-1 overall and 2-1-0 in the ACC, while Boston College falls to 7-3-0, 1-1-0. The Blue Devils will return to action on Sunday with a 2:00 p.m. contest against N.C. State, which will again be played at Koskinen Stadium on the Duke University campus.

“I was thrilled to see the ball go in because I thought we worked so hard and deserved to get that,” said Church.

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