DURHAM, N.C. – The 25^th-ranked Duke women’s soccer team closed non-conference action Sunday with a 1-0 victory over Louisiana State at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C.  Senior reserve Katy Colas registered a first half goal to move the Blue Devils to 4-4 on the season.

 

Duke came out on the attack from the beginning and opened with the first six shots of the match, but only one was on frame.  The Blue Devils were around the LSU goal all first half, but couldn’t get anything in-between the pipes. 

 

Head coach Robbie Church subbed his normal four Blue Devils with 14 minutes remaining in the half as Colas, Krysia Sikora, Casey Martinez and Katie Trees came on the pitch.  Following a great chance by Colas that went high in the 37^th minute, the 5-8 forward from Vienna, Va., would connect. 

 

Junior Rebecca Quinn fed Colas from the right side, who lobbed a 14-yard shot over the head of LSU keeper Lily Alfeld to put Duke ahead 1-0 at the 39:42 mark of the first.  The goal for Colas was the first since her sophomore season and her third collegiate goal. 

 

“When our group of three forwards come in – me, Casey and Krysia – over the past couple of games you just kind of knew a goal was coming,” said Colas.  “We go in with a mentality to just work our butt off try to wear down the defenders.  When I saw Quinn’s head ball was a loose ball.  We just have a mentality to go after it and take a chance. I was a little surprised, but I will take it.”

 

At the end of the first half, Duke held a 14-2 shot advantage. 

 

“Katy Colas did a fantastic job,” said Church.  “What a great look she had up and over the goalkeeper.  I thought we did really, really well today.  We were very disappointed to lose the game against Hofstra, but I thought we responded really well.  We had a lot of movement off the ball and shared the ball well.  There were a lot of good things.  It was great to get a shutout as defending is a team thing.  It is a good way to finish non-conference play.”

 

The second half was much like the first as the Blue Devils outshot the Tigers, 13-6, but couldn’t get anything past the LSU defense.  Duke kept possession for most of the match and held LSU to a total of eight shots. 

 

One of the best opportunities for the Tigers came in the 57^th minute as Jorian Baucom found herself with a one-v-one chance with Blue Devil freshman keeper EJ Proctor.  Baucom fired a right-footed shot that went right to Proctor, who made one of two second half saves for Duke. 

 

In the 73^rd minute, Blue Devil sophomore Christina Gibbons hit the post for the second time in the match, after scoring in the previous two contests. 

 

Duke outshot LSU, 27-8, for the match led by Imani Dorsey’s career-high eight attempts.  Dorsey, who is out of Elkridge, Md., had five shots on goal.  Gibbons added four shots, while Toni Payne and Kelly Cobb added three attempts.  A total of 11 Blue Devils had shots on the day. 

 

Redshirt junior Ali Kershner picked up the win in goal for Duke as she played the first 45 minutes, while Proctor closed the match with two saves.  It marked the third shutout of the season for the Blue Devils.

 

Duke will open ACC action this week as the Blue Devils will play at Pittsburgh Friday, Sept. 19 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Notes:

• Over the last two matches, Duke has outshot its opponents, 47-17, but has scored only two goals.

 

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