WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Sophomore Laura Weinberg scored two second half goals as the sixth-ranked Duke women’s soccer team defeated third-ranked Wake Forest, 2-0, on Thursday evening at Spry Soccer Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Duke improves to 14-2-1 overall and 6-1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with the victory.  The six league wins matches a Blue Devil school record, which also happened in 2005 and 1997.  The Blue Devils now own 19 points in the ACC standings, which is tied for first along with Virginia and North Carolina. 

“It was a huge relief,” said Duke head coach Robbie Church about the first goal.  “But we played so well and we deserved the game.  Wake Forest is great team - no question about it.  We were really prepared and had a disappointing loss at Carolina the other day.  We took a couple of days off, got some fresh legs and worked really hard in training.  They were really focused -- you could see our warm-up was really sharp, really crisp.” 

With the shutout, Duke junior goalkeeper Tara Campbell continues to increase her school record to 11 on the year.  As a team, the Blue Devils own 12 shutouts, which is one shy of the school record. 

The Blue Devils registered a key victory on the night as Wake Forest was ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA RPI and the Demon Deacons suffered their first league loss of the season.  The win is the fifth against a ranked opponent and fourth against a top 10 team.

Duke controlled the action in the first half as the Blue Devils posted an 8-0 shot advantage, but none were on goal.  The Blue Devils registered their first shot of the match at the 15:55 mark by sophomore Mollie Pathman that went high. 

One of the best chances of the first stanza was off the head of sophomore defender Natasha Anasi, who headed a corner kick by Pathman that went just high in the 19th minute. 

“It was really important,” commented Weinberg on getting the game-winning goal.  “That is kind of what we talked about at halftime -- we have this game under control and we need to put  it away by getting a goal early in the second half and that is what we did.”

The second half started much like the first but Wake Forest netted its first shot in the 68th minute off a header.  After a three-minute breather on the sidelines, Weinberg returned to the match in the 68th minute and was a different player. 

A product of Boca Raton, Fla., Weinberg had a shot in the 71st minute that was blocked.  Then less than 30 seconds later Weinberg received a pass from senior Chelsea Canepa on the left side.  The 5-9 forward weaved her way in-between two defenders and used her right foot to hit the left right corner of the net.  Weinberg hit it so well Wake Forest goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe didn’t even move to attempt to save the goal. 

“It is kind of a blur, but I know I beat two defenders and I didn’t really have a good look at the goal so I guessed where I was going and took a shot with my right foot towards the far post,” said Weinberg.  

Then, eight minutes later Pathman found Weinberg at the top of the box and Weinberg finished off her second goal of the match to put Duke ahead 2-0.  The two tallies on the night marks the second time this season and third multi-goal performance of her career.  On the year, Weinberg has seven goals and in only two years has 17 tallies. 

“We had a good game plan and we stayed to it,” said Church.  “I just felt like if we stayed, kept pressing [it would come].  We talked about it in the lockerroom -- someone had to make a play.  Somebody had to sidestep and someone had to finish an opportunity and Laura did it.  Laura got a couple of great little passes and good little balls played into her.  I am just so happy for her because It has been a little bit of a drought as it has been tough scoring goals for all of us in the ACC.  It is a tough league to score goals.  To come over here and score two goals is outstanding.”

Duke held off a late rally by Wake Forest  that included a shot by Rachel Nuzzolese that hit went through the legs of Campbell and hit the post before being cleared.  The Blue Devils finished the match with a 13-5 shot advantage. 

Campbell, who is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, finished the night with two saves in 90 minutes.  She continues to lead the ACC with 11 shutouts on the season.  Bledsoe totaled one save in goal for the Demon Deacons. 

The two goals by the Blue Devils snapped a 511-minute streak without allowing a goal by Wake Forest.  Duke had scored only two goals the last four matches prior to the two-goal output on Thursday.

Freshman standout Kelly Cobb returned to the pitch in the match and played 40 minutes, including starting the second half.  A native of Chugiak, Alaska, Cobb attempted one shot. 

The Blue Devils will return home on Sunday, Oct. 23 as Duke will host Maryland at 2:00 p.m.  It will mark senior day for Ashley Rape, Emily Nahas, Molly Mack and Canepa will be recognized.  Redshirt senior Molly Lester was recognized last year and decided not to go through the ceremony on Sunday a second time.

Duke Notes:

• The game-winning goal by Laura Weinberg is the first of the season and third of her career.

•  Junior Erin Koballa returned to the starting lineup after missing the Boston College match and coming off the bench against UNC.

•  Duke’s 14 wins on the year ranks tied for fifth-most in school history.

•  The 12 shutouts on the season ranks tied for third-most in school history.

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