NEWTON, Mass. - The fourth-ranked Duke women’s soccer team accomplished something it hasn’t ever done before on Thursday night at fifth-ranked Boston College as the Blue Devils notched a huge, 1-0, victory at the Newton Soccer Field in Newton, Mass.

Duke entered the match with a 0-3-1 all-time record in matches played at Boston College, but ended that streak on the night. 

“It is absolutely huge,” commented Head Coach Robbie Church on the victory.  “It is a different surface than we play on all year -- it is a tough surface, late at night, there was due on the turf and it was slick as can be.  It wasn’t the prettiest game we have played all year, but was I was so proud.”

Blue Devil sophomore Kaitlyn Kerr registered the game-winning goal in the 67th minute to lift Duke to one of its biggest road wins in school history.  Duke moves to 13-1-1 overall and 5-0-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) action.  The Blue Devils now own sole possession of first place in the ACC.  Boston College fell to 9-1-2, 4-1-0 on the year.

“It was incredible,” said Kerr on the win.  “They are a great team and we know that.  I think they are ranked No. 7, but whatever the rankings are we know they are a good team.  We just had to play our game.  That is what we have to do.  It was a battle out there today.”

The Blue Devils opened the match on the attack taking the first three shots from Kerr, sophomore Natasha Anasi and freshman Kelly Cobb.  Anasi, who is out of Arlington, Texas, had the best opportunity of the first stanza for Duke in the third minute.  Sophomore Gilda Doria sent in a corner kick that Anasi timed just right with a header that was heading into the left side of the next but a Boston College defender just got her left leg on it to stop the score. 

At the end of the first half, Duke held a 6-5 shot advantage and held off a charging Eagle attack at the end of the period that featured three shots in the final four minutes.

Boston College continued its attack into the second half as the Eagles fired a shot in the first two minutes before Cobb had her best shot of the match.  A native of Chugiak, Alaska, Cobb made a solid run up the middle using a couple of very nice moves to beat two Eagle defenders.  The 5-9 forward fired a right-footed attempt that Boston College goalkeeper Jillian Mastroianni dove to her right to make the save. 

The Eagles responded with four consecutive shots but the Duke defense held strong.  In goal for Duke, junior Tara Campbell made one save during the flurry that she got her left leg up to stop an attempt. 

Following three substitutions by Boston College, the Blue Devils were able to get the game-winner at the 67:34 mark.  Sophomore Alex Straton stepped in front of an Eagle forward to take away the ball.  She ran up the middle and sent it to senior Chelsea Canepa, who faced and sent it to a streaking Doria down the left side of the box.  A native of West Palm Beach, Fla., Doria crossed a perfect pass into the box where Kerr redirected it into the back right corner of the net.  Kerr, a product of Bensalem, Pa., collected her second straight game-winning goal and fifth tally of the season.

“We really defended well as a team and we made a play,” said Church.  “That is what happens in these types of games -- you have to make a play. We had two or three nice combinations -- ball played into Chelsea -- Gilda didn’t hold her run.  She made a good forward run and got in behind them.  Great service [by Gilda] and Kaitlyn Kerr timed her run and made a great finish on the goal.”

Boston College added five late shots but the Blue Devil defense stood tough for the win.

“Honestly, someone won it in the back, I can’t remember who,” said Kerr on her goal.  “It was passed to Gilda.  Gilda ran down the line -- absolutely amazing cross.  I just tried to do my job and finish.”

For the match, Duke was outshot, 16-11.  The Eagles also had an 8-6 advantage in corner kicks. 

Campbell, who is from Cincinnati, Ohio, registered seven saves on the night, while Mastroianni added four.  With her shutout, Campbell now owns the Duke single-season record for shutouts with 10.  As a team, the Blue Devils own 11 shutouts on the year, which ranks tied for fifth on the Duke list.  The single-season record is 13.

“BC came at us and put a lot of pressure on us,” said Church.  “We bent tonight, but we didn’t break.  We ended up winning this without two of our better players.  It was a really big team win.”

Duke scored only the fourth goal allowed by Boston College in 12 matches.  The Blue Devils have allowed only one goal over the last eight contests. 

“I cannot be more proud of this team,” commented Church.  “What a heart that we have here.  Now we have a week off before we go to Chapel Hill and we need it.  It is exciting, it is real exciting.”

The Blue Devils will next travel to ninth-ranked North Carolina on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Duke Notes:

•  Blue Devils played without starting defender Erin Koballa due to an injury as well as sophomore starting forward Mollie Pathman, who is training with the U-23 national team.

•  Duke attempted a season-low 11 shots. 

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