Blue Devils Drop Heartbreaker, 2-1, in ACC Semifinals

Thursday, November 6

Cary, N.C.

5:30 p.m.

Duke University

13-4-1, 7-3-0

Notre Dame (Semifinals)

14-1-2, 8-1-1

Duke

Notre Dame

Women's Soccer ACC Tournament Semifinals Huddle

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Blue Devils Drop Heartbreaker, 2-1, in ACC Semifinals

11/6/2025 9:03:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Rader & Hall Interview

CARY, N.C. – The third-seeded Duke women's soccer team allowed a goal in the 88th minute and eventually dropped a heartbreaker, 2-1, to second-seeded Notre Dame Thursday evening in the semifinals of the ACC Championship at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

Kat Rader, a product of Stuart, Florida, registered Duke's first half goal in the 41st minute. Rader totaled her 30th career tally to move into sole possession of eighth on Duke's all-time charts. The Blue Devils dropped to 13-4-1 and Notre Dame moved to 14-1-2.

How It Happened

Duke had a few early shots with Mia Minestrella taking two attempts, including one that just went over the crossbar.Rookie Jocelyn Travers also sent a shot that just went wide of the far post.
Notre Dame was able to take a 1-0 lead at the 26:50 mark as Izzy Engle finished a left-footed attempt from the left side of the box.
The Blue Devils evened the ledger, 1-1, at the 40:47 ledger as redshirt junior Elle Piper found senior Julia Saunicheva just past midfield.Saunicheva sent a great pass to a streaking redshirt junior Kat Rader who drove in and perfectly placed a right-footed shot inside the far post.
Duke nearly took the lead in the 43rd minute as freshman Avery Oder fired a rocket that hit the crossbar.
At the half, Notre Dame held a 6-5 shot advantage.
The Irish opened the second half on the attack taking the first four shots of the stanza.
Duke nearly took a 2-1 lead at the 52:52 mark as senior Saunicheva played senior Devin Lynch in the box, who one-timed a pass to a wide-open Oder for the finish, but the Blue Devils were called for offside. The referee went for a video review and the call stood.
In the 76th minute, Lynch sent a pass down towards the endline where Saunicheva fired a shot that went just wide of the far post.
Senior Carina Lageyre also had a great look in the 77th minute, but the Irish keeper made a diving stop to her right.
Saunicheva had header off a Lynch corner kick that was saved in the 82nd minute as well.
Notre Dame went ahead, 2-1, at the 87:03 ledger as Annabelle Chukwu slipped a goal past Duke goalkeeper Caroline Dysart.
Duke's Rader re-entered the match after the goal and immediately got into the action with a left-footed blast that went off the left post in the 88th minute.
For the match, the Blue Devils were outshot, 17-13, with Minestrella leading the way with three attempts.

Notes

Kat Rader scored her second career ACC Tournament goal. She now owns 10 goals on the season and 30 for her career.
Rader has totaled a point in 13 of 17 matches on the season.
Julia Saunicheva has collected a goal or assist in six out of the last nine matches. She owns six assists on the year.
The loss snapped a seven-match winning streak for the Blue Devils.
Caroline Dysart finished the match with two saves over 90 minutes in goal.
Duke tied a season low with one corner kick.