Duke Shuts Out Rutgers, Advances to NCAA Second Round

Friday, November 9

Durham, N.C. (First Round)

7:00 PM

Duke University

15-3-2

Rutgers

11-4-5

Rutgers

Duke

Duke Shuts Out Rutgers, Advances to NCAA Second Round

11/9/2018 10:02:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score WSOC: Church Postgame - RU - NCAA WSOC: McCoy Goal - RU - NCAA WSOC: McCoy Postgame - RU - NCAA Box Score (PDF)Season Stats Box Score (HTML)

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – As she has all season long, Kayla McCoy delivered in the clutch, as the senior scored the game-winning goal and No. 4 seed Duke (15-3-2) shut out Rutgers (11-4-5) 1-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament Friday evening at Koskinen Stadium.

“Everybody knew it was going to be a hard fought game,” said head coach Robbie Church. “Rutgers doesn't give up many goals. We had one good buildup in the first half that ended with Chelsea [Burns] hitting it a little bit wide. But in the second half, we had a lot of good buildups. We did a much better job of winning first, second balls. We were better on our tackles and much more dangerous with our wide players creating things from the outside in.”

Following a scoreless opening frame that featured eight shots between the two sides, McCoy provided the decisive goal in the 78^th minute. After Sydney Simmons drew a Rutgers yellow card 35 yards out, McCoy sent a header into the left corner of the net, good for her team-leading 11^th goal of the season. Junior Ella Stevens was credited with the assist, also her 11^th on the year.

With her goal, McCoy has now scored six times in NCAA play, tying Toni Payne (2013-16) for third in program history. She also has accumulated 15-career points in the Big Dance, tying Imani Dorsey (2014-17) for fourth. Stevens' assist is the seventh of her NCAA career, putting her one shy of the DWS postseason record, held by Mollie Pathman (2010-13). She is also tied with Pathman for fifth in NCAA points with 13.

“Set plays are important,” Church added. “Great delivery by Ella and a great little flick right in behind the goalkeeper.”

The Blue Devil defense did the rest, limiting Rutgers to nine shots on the night, with just two on goal. Goalkeeper Brooke Heinsohn played all 90 minutes and made two saves to earn her ninth shutout of the season and first of her postseason career. Her nine shutouts tie her for fifth on the Duke single-season chart.

With the win, Duke has advanced past the opening round in eight consecutive tournament appearances (7-0-1), while the Blue Devils also extended their home unbeaten streak to 20 and improved to 20-2-1 at Koskinen in the Big Dance.

Next up, the Blue Devils face Lipscomb, who advanced to the NCAA second round for the first time in program history with a 1-0 double overtime victory against Mississippi State Friday evening. The contest will be Friday, Nov. 16, in Washington, D.C., with time to be determined. The winner will advance to play either No. 1 Georgetown or Washington State.

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