DURHAM, N.C.— After being down for three quarters of the match and continuously getting excellent scoring chances, the 12^th-ranked Duke women’s soccer team finally registered a much-needed goal in the 76^th minute as the Blue Devils opened the Duke Nike Classic with a 1-1 double-overtime draw against ninth-ranked West Virginia at Koskinen Stadium.

Duke (3-1-1) controlled most of the first 28 minutes, but West Virginia (3-0-2) was able to get on the board first as Frances Silva drained a 20-yard blast from the right side of the field that hit the left corner of the net to give the Mountaineers a 1-0 lead at the 29:46 mark.

The Blue Devils came right back as junior Kelly Cobb rocketed a right-footed shot that hit the crossbar and went over the goal.  Senior Kaitlyn Kerr also had an excellent chance in the 43^rd minute but her attempt sailed over the crossbar. 

Duke held a 7-4 advantage in shots with senior Laura Weinberg leading the way with three attempts, while Kerr and Cobb each added two through 45 minutes of action.

The second half started like the first with Duke attacking the Mountaineer defense.  Weinberg sent a great ball from the left corner to redshirt senior Kim DeCesare in the 51^st minute, but DeCesare’s header attempt sneaked just outside the right post. 

With 25 minutes left in the second half, Weinberg attempted a shot that was saved by UCLA keeper Sara Keane.  Off the rebound, Cobb had a wide open shot but it sailed over the crossbar. 

Finally with 14:08 remaining, West Virginia’s Kadeisha Buchanan had a handball in the box to give the Blue Devils a penalty kick.  Senior Mollie Pathman stepped up and sank the equalizer to tie the score, 1-1.  Pathman, a native of Durham, N.C., connected on her 16^th career goal and first of the season.

Duke continued to press West Virginia’s backline, but just missed shot after shot. 

At the end of regulation, Duke held a 21-10 advantage in shots with Weinberg (6), Cobb (5), Kerr (4) and DeCesare (4). 

Weinberg opened the first overtime with some fancy footwork on her way to sending a right-footed shot that hit the right post.  Her rebound attempt then went high.  Duke featured a few other opportunities to score but could not get anything in-between the posts. 

Duke held a 25-12 edge in shots, led by a career-high eight attempts by Weinberg.  DeCesare added six shots to tie a career high, while Cobb had five and Kerr chipped in four. 

In goal for Duke, redshirt sophomore Ali Kershner played the entire 110 minutes and finished with three saves.  Keane added four saves in the net for West Virginia.

The Blue Devils will conclude the Duke Nike Classic on Sunday, Sept. 8 as top-ranked North Carolina will face ninth-ranked West Virginia at 11:00 a.m., while Duke will host second-ranked UCLA at 1 p.m.

#GoDuke

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