DURHAM, N.C. – The 22^nd-ranked Duke women’s soccer team welcomed the reigning NCAA Champion and second-ranked Florida State Seminoles to Koskinen Stadium Sunday afternoon.  After 110 minutes of play and outshooting the Seminoles, 25-8, the two teams finished with a 0-0 draw to open ACC action.

 

The Blue Devils have now finished with two 0-0 draws against two top-five ranked opponents as Duke moves to 6-2-2 on the season and 0-0-1 in ACC play.  Florida State is now 7-1-1, 0-0-1 on the season.

 

“It was a great game,” said Duke head coach Robbie Church.  “The kids played really well. Everything we asked our kids to come out and do they did. They executed from the first minute.  They [FSU] are the defending national champions, ranked No. 2 in the country and an absolutely fantastic program.  I thought the kids did a great, great job attacking them from the very beginning of the game.”

 

The Blue Devils opened the match with a terrific opportunity as sophomore Morgan Reid sent a cross into junior Rebecca Quinn, who sent a shot in that was blocked.  The ball came to freshman Taylor Racioppi, but her open shot went right to Florida State keeper Cassie Miller, who made the save in the first two minutes.

 

After the opening minutes, Duke controlled most of the run of play of the first half limiting the Seminoles to a season-low one shot.  Neither team featured any dangerous opportunities after the early attempt by Racioppi. 

 

The Blue Devils took a total of six shots from six different Duke student-athletes.

 

Duke continued to hold possession in the second half and would outshoot the Seminoles, 12-2, in the second stanza. 

 

Junior Christina Gibbons sent a cross in from the right side to Racioppi, but the Ocean Township, N.J., was taken down in the box as she was trying to get a head on the ball.  She still managed to get a head on the ball, but the attempt went wide in the 63^rd minute. 

 

In the 72^nd minute, Dorsey sent a great feed over off sophomore Casey Martinez to Cassie Pecht.  A native of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Pecht fired a shot but it went high. 

 

At the end of regulation, Duke held an 18-3 shot advantage led by Ashton Miller and Racioppi with three each. 

 

Florida State featured its two best scoring chances in the first overtime as both Elin Jensen and Carson Pickett sent shots in, but they went wide. 

 

In the second overtime, Duke had a few great opportunities.  Pecht attempted a shot that was blocked, by the Seminole defense.  The ball came to the feet of freshman Kayla McCoy and her shot was saved, before FSU was able to clear. 

 

Then at the 109:13 mark Gibbons had a corner kick to the head of junior Lizzy Raben, who’s header went wide of the left post.

 

“We did have some good looks in there; there is no question,” said Church.  “The keeper made a couple of good saves, a couple got cleared off the line, I thought we had one early, almost had one late.  For the most part, we stayed with our game plan.  There are some things that we have to do better both offensively and defensively.”

 

As a team, Duke outshot Florida State, 25-8, led by five attempts by Racioppi, while Pecht and McCoy added four.

 

“It was a good tie,” said Duke sophomore defender Schuyler DeBree.  “It is frustrating because I think if you look at the stats you are like they tied, 0-0, that is awesome for them.  Honestly, I think we deserved to win that game.  I know we are going to probably want that one back later in the season. I am especially proud with the way we defended. It has been more of a team effort, it is not just the back four and the goalkeeper.  It has been the entire 11 players.”

 

Sophomore goalkeeper EJ Proctor posted her fourth shutout of the season, while Duke netted its seventh overall clean sheet.  Proctor, who hails from Wilson, N.C., added one save. 

 

Duke will hit the road this coming week with matches at Boston College (Sept. 24) and at Virginia (Sept. 27). 

 

#GoDuke