No. 19 Blue Devils Fall, 2-1, to No. 2 Stanford

Sunday, August 29

Chapel Hill, N.C.

11:00 a.m.

Duke University

2-0-2

Stanford (Chapel Hill, NC)

2-1

#2/2 Stanford

Duke

No. 19 Blue Devils Fall, 2-1, to No. 2 Stanford

8/29/2010 2:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - In a close match on Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C., the 19th-ranked Duke women's soccer team (2-1-0) gave second-ranked Stanford (2-0-2) all it could handle as the Blue Devils fell, 2-1, at Fetzer Field in the Nike Carolina Classic.

Stanford opened the match with the first shot in the 10th minute but the Blue Devils came back with three straight attempts from freshmen Laura Weinberg and Gilda Doria. The third shot came off the left foot of Doria, after Weinberg sent a great cross through the box, but the attempt was saved by Stanford goalkeeper Kira Maker in the 13th minute.

The match was very even throughout the first half as Stanford outshot Duke, 5-4. The Blue Devils had a very good opportunity at the 44:03 mark before time ran out. Redshirt freshman Kim DeCesare sent a pass to senior Gretchen Miller who fired a shot that Maker dove to her left and saved.

Doria, who is from West Palm Beach, Fla., led the Blue Devils with two shots in the first half as she made her first career start.

"It was a very tactical game - both teams played well defensively and space was hard to find on offense," commented Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. "We had one really good one right before halftime -- the goalkeeper made a big save. I thought we played a very smart half and competitive half. I thought we were in tight, took their time and space away. It was a good first half."

Duke came out in the second half and took the first lead of the match at the 49:31 mark as senior Molly Lester sent a perfect feed to senior Marybeth Kreger at the top of the box. Kreger, who is from Noblesville, Ind., drove towards the goal and fired a shot that was blocked by the Stanford defense.

On the shot attempt, Stanford's Maker dove in goal so when the rebound came at the feet of Weinberg she was able to hit the back of the net for her first career goal.

"Actually, I give credit to MB [Marybeth Kreger] she did most of the work," commented Weinberg. "She beat her defender and took her shot. I just happened to be there to clean it up. It is very exciting to have my first career goal, especially against Stanford."

Stanford didn't wait long to even the match as just a minute and 49 seconds later Teresa Noyola scored her third goal of the season off assists from Lindsay Taylor and Camille Levin.

"It broke our back," said Church. "We are very disappointed to lose this game. We could have and should have won this game. You score in the second half and go up a goal -- you have to win the game. You have to close the door. It was almost like my gosh I cannot believe we are up on Stanford, 1-0 -- the second ranked team. We didn't believe in ourselves."

After a turnover in the midfield by the Blue Devils, Stanford streaked down the field and got behind the Duke defense. Christen Press was able to hit the left corner of the net after Duke sophomore goalkeeper Tara Campbell charged out to try to make the save in the 74th minute. The goal put Stanford ahead, 2-1, with 16 minutes remaining.

Duke had one of its best scoring opportunities of the second half in the 77th minute as senior Carey Goodman got inside the box and sent a shot at the goal that was saved by Maker, but the goalkeeper couldn't keep a handle on the ball. It settled at the feet of freshman Avery Rape, who fired her first career shot that was kicked off the goal line by a Stanford defender.

Weinberg added a header that sailed high late in the contest for the Blue Devils. Stanford finished the contest with a 12-9 shot advantage. In goal for the Blue Devils, Campbell finished with three saves in 90 minutes of work.

"We are a really good team and we've got to be able to close the door on those chances," said Church. "If we would have weathered the storm and given it another five minutes or so I think we would have done a good job. We have to be able to close the door. We shouldn't lose the game after going up 1-0. It is a tough one to take."

The Blue Devils will next take on Francis Marion on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 7:00 p.m., which will mark the 2010 home opener for Duke. It is the first of seven straight home contests at Koskinen Stadium for the Blue Devils.

Notes:

Freshman Gilda Doria made her first career start in the midfield for the Blue Devils.
A total of 22 Blue Devils saw action in the contest.
Duke started the match with nine freshmen and sophomores to go along with senior Molly Lester and senior Marybeth Kreger.

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