DURHAM, N.C. – The fourth-ranked Florida State women’s soccer team registered a goal with 3:02 remaining in the second half to upend the 12^th-ranked Duke Blue Devils on Sunday afternoon at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C.

 

The Blue Devils dropped to 4-3-1 overall and 1-1-0 in the ACC, while the Seminoles improved to 6-0-2, 1-0-1. 

 

Duke scored its earliest tally of the season at the 18:16 mark as senior Laura Weinberg drove into the left side of the box and sent a perfect cross to redshirt senior Kim DeCesare.  A product of Massapequa Park, N.Y., DeCesare finished with her right foot into the right corner of the net for her second goal of the season. 

Florida State came right back in less than a minute to even the match, 1-1, as Berglind Thorvaldsdottir blasted a shot from outside the box that went inside the left post. 

In the 27^th minute, Duke’s Weinberg and junior Kelly Cobb each had great chances of scoring as Cobb made a great run up the pitch and found Weinberg on the left side of the box.  A product of Boca Raton, Fla., Weinberg fired a shot that was blocked and then Cobb’s rebound attempt sailed right from point-blank range. 

At the end of the first half, Duke led Florida State in shots by a 7-6 ledger with Weinberg and DeCesare leading the way with two each.  Five different Blue Devils attempted shots in the first half.

Florida State controlled most of the run of the second half as the Seminoles limited Duke to only four shots, while taking 13 of their own.  Two of Duke’s best scoring chances came in the 83^rd and 84^th minute as freshman Toni Payne made a run into the box, but her attempt sailed wide right.  DeCesare also fired a shot that was saved just a minute later. 

After a questionable foul at midfield on the Blue Devils, Florida State was awarded with a free kick.  Megan Campbell sent a kick into the box where Kristin Grubka flicked a shot with her head into the top left corner of the net to take a 2-1 advantage with only 3:02 remaining.

Duke was not able to get any good looks to tie the match over the final three minutes.  For the match, the Blue Devils were outshot, 19-11.  DeCesare led Duke with three shots, while Kaitlyn Kerr, Cobb and Weinberg added two each. 

In goal for the Blue Devils, redshirt sophomore Ali Kershner notched four saves over 90 minutes of play, while Kelsey Wys totaled two saves for Florida State. 

 

 

Duke will next face seventh-ranked Wake Forest on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7:00 p.m., in Winston-Salem, N.C.

 

 

Notes:

• With her one assist in the match, moved into sole possession of third place on Duke’s all-time points list with 89 points.  Weinberg now owns 21 assists over her career to move into a tie for sixth all-time at Duke. 
• With her 25 career goals, Kim DeCesare moved into a tie for ninth on Duke’s all-time goals list.
• Sophomore Kara Wilson made her first collegiate start in the midfield, due to freshman Malinda Allen being sick. 
• Duke lost at home for only the third time since the 2012 season (21-3-4).

 

#GoDuke