Rader’s Late Goal Not Enough, Blue Devils Fall, 2-1, at Pitt

Thursday, October 5

Pittsburgh, Pa.

7 p.m.

Duke University

5-4-2, 1-2-2

Pittsburgh

10-2-1, 3-1-1

Duke

Pittsburgh

Photo by: Pittsburgh Athletics

Rader’s Late Goal Not Enough, Blue Devils Fall, 2-1, at Pitt

10/5/2023 10:21:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Duke women's soccer team traveled to 14th-ranked Pitt on Thursday for an ACC match and dropped a 2-1 decision at Ambrose Urbanic Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Panthers tallied two early second-half goals and the Blue Devils added a late penalty kick by sophomore Kat Rader, but couldn't get the equalizer.

Duke dropped to 5-4-2 overall and 1-2-2 in ACC play, while Pitt improved to 10-2-1, 3-1-1.

How It Happened
•   Pitt featured the first good luck on goal at the 12:40 mark as a cross went in front of the goal to Sarah Shupansky, but Duke goalkeeper Leah Freeman was there for the save.
•   The Blue Devils came back with their best look of the half as junior Carina Lageyre got open on the right side of the box and her shot went just wide off the far post in the 15th minute.
•   Pittsburgh was on the attack for the rest of the first half taking the final seven shots of the stanza, including one off the post.
•   At the end of the half, Pitt held a 10-3 advantage in shots. Kat Rader, Elle Piper and Lageyre of Duke attempted shots, none of which were on goal.
•   Pitt came out in the second half and got on the board quickly at the 46:32 mark as Samiah Phiri sent in a long-range shot from over 30 yards that hit on the inside of the right post and deflected in the goal to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
•   After a Duke turnover inside the box, Pitt made the Blue Devils pay as Anna Bout finished inside the far post at the 49:18 mark to put the Panthers ahead, 2-0, in the 50th minute.
•   Blue Devil senior Maggie Graham was taken down in the box at the 76:52 mark and Duke was awarded a penalty kick. Rader stepped up and buried the attempt into the back of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1.
•   With 10 minutes remaining, Duke had another great chance as freshman Phoebe Goldthwaite and Rader got open in front of the goal, but Rader's attempt went wide left.

Notes
•   After missing the previous match with an injury, senior Grace Watkins came off the bench and played 32 minutes.
•   Duke goalkeeper Leah Freeman totaled four first-half saves and went on to finish the night with a career-high six saves.
•   Kat Rader scored her sixth goal of the season and the second in ACC action this year. Rader owns 18 career tallies over two years.
•   Of Rader's 18 career goals, 10 have come against ACC foes.
•   Duke allowed a season-high 20 shots and was outshot 20-7. The Blue Devils were limited to a season-low one shot on goal, which was the penalty kick.
•   Senior defender Emily Royson and senior forward Olivia Migli missed their third straight match with injuries.

Next Match
Duke returns home to host top-ranked North Carolina on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m., inside Koskinen Stadium. The match will be aired live on ACC Network.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".

#GoDuke