Blue Devils Register ACC Win on the Road at Virginia Tech

Saturday, October 18

Blacksburg, VA

7 p.m.

Duke University

9-3-1, 4-3-0

Virginia Tech

4-9-3, 0-7-1

Duke

Virginia Tech

Photo by: Peter Raider, Duke Athletics

Blue Devils Register ACC Win on the Road at Virginia Tech

10/18/2025 9:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The ninth-ranked Duke women's soccer team went on the road Saturday and came away with a key ACC win as the Blue Devils defeated Virginia Tech, 3-2, at Thompson Field in Blacksburg.

Duke received three second half goals by Mia Minestrella, Julia Saunicheva and Avery Oder as the Blue Devils improved to 9-3-1 overall and 4-3-0 in ACC action. The Hokies dropped to 4-9-3, 0-7-1.

How It Happened

Virginia Tech came out on the attack attempting the first four shots of the match, three of which were saved by Duke goalkeeper Caroline Dysart.Dysart came up big stopping a couple of one-v-one chances early.
Redshirt junior Elle Piper featured Duke's first shot of the match in the eighth minute that was saved.
The Blue Devils had numerous good chances at goals in the first half with Mia Minestrella, Mia Oliaro, Farrah Walters, Kat Rader and Devin Lynch attempting shots.
At the end of the first half, Duke held an 11-9 shot advantage.
Senior Julia Saunicheva had a header attempt to open the second half, but it went wide.
Duke took a 1-0 lead at the 53:19 mark as redshirt Rader drove into the box and sent a great pass to Minestrella.A native of Redondo Beach, Calif., Minestrella fired a shot that was saved by Lauren Hargrove, but Minestrella was there to put in the rebound.
Less than two minutes later, the Blue Devils doubled their lead to 2-0.Dysart laced a kick from the goal box and Minestrella headed over to Saunicheva. She took the ball, drove down the field beating two Hokie defenders and then had a one-v-one opportunity where she beat the Virginia Tech keeper for the goal.
Duke added a third goal at the 70:36 mark as Oliaro used her left foot to serve a cross into the box where freshman Avery Oder was there to head in her sixth goal of the season.
Virginia Tech added a goal in the 79th minute to cut the Duke lead to 3-1.
The Hokies then cut the Blue Devil lead to 3-2 in the 87th minute.

Notes

Duke now owns a nine-match unbeaten streak against the Hokies.
The Blue Devils are now 3-2 on the road this year.
Mia Minestrella totaled her ninth goal of the season and fifth against ACC opponents this season.
Julia Saunicheva collected her second goal of the year and third career tally. Both of her goals in 2025 have come against ACC foes.
Sophomore goalkeeper Caroline Dysart netted her first collegiate assist. Dysart played the entire 90 minutes and finished with a career-high tying seven saves.
Avery Oder scored a goal in her second match in a row.
For the match, Duke held an 18-11 shot advantage.
The Blue Devils have scored two or more goals in five matches in a row.