McCoy Scores Late, Pushes No. 10 Duke Past No. 11 BC

Sunday, October 21

Durham, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Boston College

McCoy Scores Late, Pushes No. 10 Duke Past No. 11 BC

10/21/2018 4:31:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score WSOC: Church Postgame - BC WSOC: McCoy Postgame - BC Box Score (PDF)Box Score (HTML)

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - For the past four years, Kayla McCoy has delivered in the clutch time and time again. Sunday's Senior Day contest was no different, as the veteran punched in a goal with five minutes remaining in the match to send the No. 10 Duke Blue Devils (13-2-2, 7-1-1 ACC) to a 2-1 victory against the No. 11 Boston College Eagles (13-3-1, 5-3-1 ACC).

The Blue Devils played from behind for the third-straight game, giving up a goal within the first 10 minutes in all three matches of that stretch. All three game-winning goals have come in the final 15 minutes of the match, as Duke now has three-straight comeback victories and four on the year.

“We weren't great today, but we were good at times. That was a good top 25 Boston College team we faced out there today and you have to give them credit,” head coach Robbie Church said. “That was big for our national seed hopes and big for the ACC Tournament. That gives us the No. 2 seed in the ACC. I'm very happy for this team, but we just need a little more quality going forward."

McCoy's score sealed the Blue Devils' fifth-straight win and gives them a 12-1-2 record in their last 15 contests, while also sealing the No. 2 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament (Oct. 28 – Nov. 4) and insuring they will host their quarterfinal matchup on Oct. 28.

After Delaney Graham made a deep run into the offensive third off a Blue Devil counter, the ball ended up at the feet of Tess Boade, who sent a beautiful ball to McCoy on the right side of the 18' box. The senior made a move around her defender, creating enough space to fire off a shot that got past the BC's Alexis Bryant and into the back left corner of the goal to give Duke a 2-1 lead it would hold until the final whistle.

“Delaney made this huge run down the field and she was able to find Tess, who found me on a huge switch to the other side of the field,” McCoy said. “That was great composure by her to pick her head up and find me. I was one-on-one in front of the goal and able to finish it.”

The senior finished with an assist and a goal on the day adding to an already impressive season and career. Sunday was McCoy's fourth three-plus point performance of the year. It also moved her into sole possession of fourth on the DWS all-time goals list with 36, putting her three shy of tying Laura Weinberg (2010-13) for third. McCoy increased her career points total to 88, moving her into a tie for fourth on Duke's career list with Andi Melde (1994-97), and earned her 14th-career game-winning goal, which ties Elisabeth Redmond (2006-09) for third in Blue Devil history.

“Kayla McCoy has meant a lot of things the last four years for this program and what an appropriate Senior Day for her to be able to finish that,” Church said. “We've seen it time and time again. Once she had separation and was able to strike the ball, you knew it was going to be a goal. She's a great finisher. She's had a wonderful career, but she wants more. We all want more. I'm very happy for her and for the team, too.”

Boston College struck first in the match, as Olivia Vaughn tallied a hard-hit shot into goal in the 10th minute of play to put the Blue Devils behind early. However, there was no panic from the home side as the Blue Devils evened the score with a goal from freshman Mackenzie Pluck at the 32:52 mark. Impressive movement from McCoy and Ella Stevens got the ball up to Pluck, who won a one-on-one battle with Bryant to even the score at 1-1. “We can't keep putting ourselves in that situation,” Church said. “It seems like something has to go wrong for us to really dig in and that can't last. We've talked about it all week, but the good is that we've been there before and we know we can come back. It was disappointing to give up that first goal, but I loved our response.”

Boston College nearly went back ahead in the opening stages of the second half, reeling off two shots in the first minute of play after not having recorded a chance since the 16th minute of the first 45. Brooke Heinsohn made her lone save of the day a big one, punching away Sam Coffey's free kick attempt to keep the score level. The Eagles would fire off another shot just seconds later, one that clanked off the crossbar and was cleared out by Taylor Racioppi.

After the Eagles just missed on a header near goal in the 58th minute, Stevens and McCoy fired off attempts a minute apart that nearly pushed the Blue Devils into the lead. Racioppi would earn two chances in the 77th minute, but could not capitalize, leaving the score in a draw until McCoy's 10th tally of the season.

Duke once again dominated the shot game, taking 15 to Boston College's eight and improving to 11-1-1 on the year when outshooting its opponents. The win extends Duke's dominance against the Eagles, improving its winning streak to four-straight games, the longest in series history. It also keeps the Blue Devils undefeated at home against BC with an 8-0-1 mark at Koskinen.

Prior to Sunday's contest, the Blue Devils honored their four seniors: McCoy, Racioppi, Kat McDonald and Chelsea Burns. The winningest senior class in program history celebrated their final regular season home game of their careers by picking up their 65th victory.

“It's super exciting,” McCoy said. “I couldn't for much more on my senior day. It was a big game and we made it a little hard on ourselves at times, but we're just really fortunate to come out with the win. The team stepped up big time. They made it very clear they wanted to play for the seniors and you could see that.”

Duke hits the road for its next match, closing out the regular season with a Thursday, Oct. 25 matchup at Notre Dame. That contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET start on ACC Network Extra.

Fans can keep up with all things Duke women's soccer by following the program on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for “DukeWSoc”. Behind-the-scenes content of women's soccer and all Duke athletic programs can be found on Snapchat by following “dukeathletics”.

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