Duke Collects 3-1 Home Win Over Pitt

 

October 22, 2015

 

DURHAM, N.C. – Coming off the biggest win of the 2015 campaign at fifth-ranked North Carolina last Friday, the 21^st-ranked Duke women’s soccer team continued its solid play Thursday evening with a 3-1 victory over Pitt at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C.

 

Duke improved to 9-4-4 overall and 3-2-3 in ACC action, while the Panthers dropped to 10-5-1, 4-4-0. 

 

“I knew this was going to be the hardest game of the year, there is no question about that for us,” commented head coach Robbie Church.  “Coming off a win, then with Notre Dame coming on the backside of this and after watching three days of tape on Pitt - Greg Miller and has staff has done a fantastic job.  Then the last two times we played them we just had our way with them.  I know that combination of all of that would make it a very, very difficult game.  Good teams find a way to win those games and we did.  Even falling down a goal and coming back.”

 

The Blue Devils started quick on the attack and after a great cross from sophomore Imani Dorsey, freshman Kayla McCoy headed an attempt off the right post before going out of bounds at the 7:33 mark. 

 

In the 24th minute, Pitt stole a pass in the midfield and Taylor Price fired a shot at Duke goalkeeper EJ Proctor, but the netminder made a diving, one-handed save.  Off the rebound, Sarah Krause easily scored to give the Panthers an early, 1-0, lead. 

 

The goal by Pitt snapped a 325:50 scoreless streak for the Blue Devils over the last five matches. 

 

Duke wouldn’t stay down for very long as in the 30th minute sophomore Ashton Miller found Dorsey just outside the box and the 5-7 product of Elkridge, Md., blasted in a left-footed shot from 20 yards out.  The goal by Dorsey marked her second straight match with a tally and evened the score, 1-1.

 

A minute and three seconds later, the Blue Devils added their second goal as Miller took a pass from junior Toni Payne and rocketed in a 27-yard shot to give Duke a 2-1 advantage. 

 

Duke went on to outshoot Pitt, 11-6, in the first half as eight different Blue Devils attempted shots led by Payne with three.   With two goals in the first half, it marked the first time this season Duke has scored two goals in the first period against an ACC opponent.

 

The Blue Devils featured a great early scoring chance in the second half as Duke had a 4-on-2 break led by freshman Taylor Racioppi, but a shot by Dorsey was saved in the 49th minute. 

 

Both teams exchanged shots over the next 20 minutes but the defenses held strong. 

 

Proctor, who is a product of Wilson, N.C., would come up big again in the 77^th minute as Pryce got free on the left side of the box for a one-v-one chance.  The Blue Devil keeper was able to get her left arm on a shot by Pryce and keep the Blue Devils ahead, 2-1. 

 

Needing that third goal to put the match away, the Blue Devils were able to capitalize off a rebounded shot from Payne.  After Payne’s shot was blocked, Miller corralled the ball and stuck it into the right corner of the net for her second tally of the match.  As Duke led 3-1, the Blue Devils were able to hold Pitt to zero shots over the final seven minutes.

 

Miller, who is a native of Okemos, Mich., collected her first multi-goal performance and her fourth goal of the season. 

 

Duke finished the match with a 22-14 shot advantage, including 11 shots in each half.  Payne finished the night five a team-high five, while McCoy added four attempts. 

 

Proctor was stellar in-between the posts once again finishing with seven saves over 90 minutes of action.  Pitt keeper Taylor Francis, who Proctor grew up training with, added 10 saves. 

 

“I thought both goalkeepers played very well,” said Church.  “For us, EJ Proctor made some unbelievable saves when the game was 2-1.  She made at least three good saves before we found that cushion at the end.  I was very proud of her and her work.  We actually gave up more shots and scoring opportunities today than we have the last three or four games.  We have to tighten up defensively coming in.  We will be more than fine on Sunday.”

 

The Blue Devils will next host eighth-ranked Notre Dame Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1:00 p.m.

 

“We found a way to get three points and get another win,” said Church.  “We move on to Sunday’s game against Notre Dame.”

 

Notes:

 

• Duke moved to 2-4-0 on the season when allowing the first goal of the match.
• Pitt lost for the first time this season when scoring the first goal.
• The Blue Devils move to 3-0 all-time against Pitt in the series.

 

#GoDuke