HOMEWOOD, Ala. – After waiting through a nearly two hour weather delay, it took double-overtime for the 15^th-ranked Duke women’s soccer team to put away Samford on the road Friday evening.  Blue Devil sophomore Ashton Miller connected on a blast from 25 yards out to lift Duke to a 2-1 double-overtime victory on the road at Samford Track and Soccer Stadium in Homewood, Ala.

 

With the victory, Duke improves to 5-1-1, while Samford falls to 4-3-0.

 

Samford opened the match attempting the first shot of the contest, before the Blue Devils came back to take the next two shots off the legs of freshman Kayla McCoy and Cassie Pecht, but both went wide right.

 

The Bulldogs came back at the 14:37 mark to strike first as Malcanisha Kelley served the ball from the right side of the pitch to an open Hallie Georgi.  Georgi one-timed her first goal of the season from eight yards out to take a 1-0 advantage. 

 

Duke came back to even the match at the 29:52 mark as freshman Taylor Racioppi crossed in a perfect pass from the right side to a charging junior Kara Wilson, who headed in her first career goal from 12 yards out.  Wilson, who is a product of Potomac, Md., fired the header at Samford keeper Katie Peters and the ball bounced off the netminder and into the left corner of the net. 

 

The Blue Devils would start pressuring the Samford defense the rest of the first half and had a few chances at good shots, but the Bulldog defense held strong. 

 

At the end of the first half, Duke posted a 7-4 shot advantage as seven different Blue Devils attempted at least one shot. 

 

The Blue Devils opened the second half with an excellent scoring chance as sophomore Imani Dorsey beat a Samford defender into the box, but she decided to pass across the goal instead of shooting and Payne couldn’t get a shot off.

 

At the 57:27 mark, Miller sent a free kick at the goal, but Peters was able to tap the ball over the crossbar for a corner kick.  Wilson then fired a shot that was saved once again by Peters. 

 

Duke continued to hold possession of the ball most of the second half, but couldn’t get the decisive goal in regulation.  Towards the end of the second stanza, Racioppi was taken down in the box as she was heading towards the goal, but there was no call.

 

At the end of the second half, Duke held a 16-7 shot lead with Wilson adding a season-high five attempts.  She had only taken six shots prior to the match. 

 

Duke opened the first overtime once again on the attack with two quick shots by Wilson and Dorsey.  Dorsey’s attempt just went wide of the right post, after Peters deflected it.  Freshman Kayla McCoy then blasted a right-footed attempt towards the right portion of the goal, but Peters made a diving stop to her left to keep the score even at, 1-1. 

 

The Blue Devils held a 5-1 advantage in shots in the first overtime.

 

Just three minutes and nine seconds into the second overtime, Wilson sent a pass back to a charging Miller, who blasted a 25-yard shot that hit the back right corner of the net to give Duke a 2-1 victory.  Miller, who hails from Okemos, Mich., tallied her second career goal and her first of the season. 

 

For the match, Duke out Samford, 23-8.  Wilson finished the night with a season-high five shots and Miller added a season-high four attempts. 

 

Sophomore EJ Proctor collected the victory for Duke in goal as she played the entire match netting three saves.  Peters registered seven saves for Samford in goal. 

 

Duke will conclude a two-match road trip at LSU Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1:00 p.m., in Baton Rouge, La.

 

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