CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After a decade without a victory against their most bitter rivals, the Duke women’s soccer team used a first half goal to defeat fifth-ranked North Carolina, 1-0, Friday at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C.

 

The win brings the Blue Devils to 8-4-4 overall and 2-2-3 in the ACC.  The victory is Duke’s first against North Carolina since October 9, 2005 and the third in program history.

 

“This is great, unbelievable, said Duke head coach Robbie Church.  “I think I had brown hair in 2005 when we last beat them and obviously it’s not brown anymore.  What a great dynasty [North Carolina] is.  So to come over here and win on this field when they have a very good team, it’s very satisfying.  With all the work you put in, it’s great.  I’m so happy that the girls got to experience this.”

 

The Blue Devils started off on the offensive quickly as freshman midfielder Taylor Racioppi fired the first shot for either squad just 2:05 into the match.

 

The contest abruptly turned into a defensive struggle for the two teams.  The next shot of the match came at the 19:11 mark as a shot by North Carolina’s Abby Elinsky was by blocked by the Blue Devil back line.  Duke was able to hold the Tar Heels (11-3-1, 4-3-0) to just two shots overall in the first half.

 

After spending most of the half on the defensive, the Blue Devils were able to find a groove offensively in the final 15 minutes of the first period, coming up with two shots on goal and forcing North Carolina keeper Bryane Heaberlin to work hard.

 

Duke was able to get on the board first as sophomore midfielder Ashton Miller fed a ball beautifully into the box for classmate Imani Dorsey.  The Elkridge, Md. native fired a shot into the upper netting from just outside the six-yard box to give the Blue Devils the early 1-0 lead.  It marked her second goal of the season and fourth of her career. 

 

The goal ended several streaks for Duke including a 229:46 streak without a first half goal.  The tally also was the first goal scored by the Blue Devils against the Tar Heels since 2010, and gave Duke its first lead against its rivals since October 9, 2005.

 

“When it went in the net it was a really good feeling,” Dorsey said.  “We know that we’re a talented team and that we have talented players on offense.  We’ve been so close for a couple weeks and to get that goal in this environment on this field is such an amazing feeling.

 

In the second half, the Blue Devils turned to their defense and goaltending to hold the lead as the Tar Heels began to mount a heavy offensive attack.  North Carolina outshot Duke 10-6 in the second half.

 

One of North Carolina’s best chances came on a free kick from 25 yards out at 78:54.  Midfielder Joanna Boyles took the free kick for the Tar Heels and wrapped the shot around the Blue Devil wall. 

 

Fortunately, for the Blue Devils, goalkeeper E.J. Proctor was able to record one of her four second half saves on the play, keeping the score sheet clean.

 

The Blue Devils were not without their chances in the second half, though.  In the 57^th minute, Racioppi ripped a shot and nearly missed doubling the Duke lead as the ball clanged off the right goalpost before being cleared by the Tar Heels.

 

Dorsey tried to collect her second goal of the contest on a counter attack at 81:10 but was well defended and forced the ball high over the crossbar.

 

A header by Joanna Boyles nearly leveled the score at 86:26 but the ball whizzed just wide to the right of the net to keep the Blue Devils’ hopes alive.

 

With under a minute remaining, center back Christina Gibbons cut off the Tar Heels’ final quality opportunity with a slide tackle just outside the Duke 18-yard box and cleared the ball deep to seal the historic victory for the Blue Devils.

 

For the match, North Carolina outshot Duke, 12-11.  Racioppi and freshman Kayla McCoy each registered three attempts.

 

"The game is a confidence booster for everybody and we needed that,” commented Church.  “I think we're in pretty good shape in the NCAA Tournament — we still needed one quality win — but more than that for our whole psyche — as much as we worked and as hard as we worked — we needed that signature win to say we're a really a good team and now this will help us to realize that going forward. Offensively we've been playing well.  Our offense is definitely evolving and once it all comes together then we're going to be really strong going forward."

 

The victory also marks the first time since the 1997 season that Duke has put together three consecutive road shutouts.  The Blue Devils now own a tied for ACC-best 10 shutouts and Proctor has seven of her own.  A product of Wilson, N.C., Proctor has put together a string of 301:52 minutes without allowing a goal over the last four matches.  She finished with four saves over 90 minutes in Chapel Hill.

 

The Blue Devils will return home for their final three regular season matches as they look to close out the regular season strong.  Duke’s next contest will take place Thursday, October 22 at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C. against Pittsburgh.

 

Notes:

• Freshman Chelsea Burns made her second collegiate start in the match.
• Duke moved the all-time record against North Carolina to 3-37-1 with all three wins coming in Chapel Hill, N.C.  The Blue Devils are 3-14-1 in matches played in Chapel Hill.
• The Blue Devils posted a victory against a top-five ranked team for the first time since Nov. 18, 2012 at second-ranked Virginia (3-1).

 

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