DURHAM, N.C. – On the strength of two first half goals and a solid defensive effort, the fourth-ranked Duke women’s soccer team downed Miami, 3-0, on Thursday evening at Koskinen Stadium.  The Blue Devils improved to 10-1 on the season and reached the 10-win mark the quickest of any Duke team in school history.  

In Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) action, Duke moved to 2-0, while Miami dropped to 1-1 in league play and 7-2 overall.  The Blue Devils continue their best start in school history.  

“I am excited about the game as I thought we had a fantastic first half,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church.  “I thought we worked extremely hard, were focused.  We had it in warm-ups.  This was a tough game for us last year. We lost a heartbreaker down in Miami.  I think that was in the back of our minds.  We wanted to follow up our win against Florida State.  I was really impressed with or girls -- how we came out and really played the first half.”

Duke had a stellar first half and mounted a standout attack early taking five shots in the opening 14 minutes that all went wide.  In the 18th minute, freshman Kelly Cobb and sophomore Mollie Pathman played a give-and-go before Pathman sank a 12-yard shot in the top of the netting.  A native of Durham, N.C., Pathman now owns three goals this season along with two game-winning tally’s.  

The Pathman-Cobb connection continues to be one of the most dangerous duos in the league as they have now combined to score five goals this season together.  

“We have had a previous experience together on the Under-20s -- I have been with her a couple of years on that level,” said Cobb about her chemistry with Pathman.  “Coming into here we work well together and I think it is just a natural fit.”

Less than two minutes later, Duke went ahead 2-0 as junior Nicole Lipp found sophomore Kaitlyn Kerr in the midfield before Kerr crossed the ball over to the right side of the box to Cobb.  A native of Chugiak, Alaska, Cobb drove in a little and used her right foot to hit just inside of the right post for her team-leading eighth goal of the season.  

Duke went on to attempt four more shots in the first half.  The Blue Devils held an 11-0 advantage in shots in the first stanza.  

Neither team could get anything going early in the second half and Church changed out the front line with redshirt senior Molly Lester, redshirt sophomore Callie Simpkins and senior Chelsea Canepa each coming in the 69th minute.  

The bench gave Duke some very good energy allowing the Hurricanes to only one shot during the action.  

“We made some subs and the groups that came in worked extremely hard and were very productive,” said Church.  “Then we came back and I thought their level of play went up.  I was really proud of that.”

In the 79th and 80th minute, five starters returned to the match, including the starting forwards -- Cobb, Pathman and sophomore Laura Weinberg.  Weinberg, who is out of Boca Raton, Fla., went on a shot barrage with three attempts in just three minutes before connecting on her fourth tally of the season in the 86th minute.  

“We just knew that we had to dominate the attacking third and that meant taking a lot of shots,” commented Weinberg.  “Pretty much the mentality of the three forwards is to beat your player one-v-one and get the shot off.  We were trying to do that throughout the game.”

Cobb made a great feed up the middle to a streaking Weinberg, who then beat two Hurricane defenders to the ball.  The 5-9 forward had a one-v-one opportunity with Miami goalkeeper Vikki Alonzo and she easily sank the goal.  Weinberg now owns 14 career goals in two years with the Blue Devils.  

“They switched their formation to a more of attacking formation,” said Weinberg.  “So naturally that gave the forwards more of a chance to attack.  We had more space and I was able to get through.  It was a great ball by Kelly and I was able to finish it.”

For the second time in her career, Cobb posted two or more assists in a contest.  Cobb has scored goals in three consecutive matches.

The Blue Devils outshot Miami, 19-4, in the match and held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks.  Weinberg led Duke with six attempts, while Cobb and sophomore Gilda Doria added four each.

In goal for Duke, Campbell notched the shutout as she played the entire 90 minutes and finished with one save.  Campbell, who is out of Cincinnati, Ohio, now owns six shutouts on the season and has 20 shutouts in three years.  Alonzo added three saves for the Hurricanes.

“I thought Libby Jandl and Natasha [Anasi] were fantastic in the center backs,” commented Church about the defense.  “They worked off of each other, covered and stepped up.  I thought they were really, really good.  The three outside backs -- Maddy [Haller], Alex [Straton] and Erin Koballa were really good to.  Early in the match we did a fantastic job of pressing and giving them very little looks to serve balls.”

Duke will next travel to Clemson, S.C., for a Sunday, Sept. 25 match at Clemson.  The contest will start at 2:00 p.m.

“It is a 3-0 win, three points and a shutout,” said Church.  “We are off for Clemson.  Now we to go on the road and look to play on the road. We are looking forward to that.  The only true road game we have had is Auburn so we want to try to build on that.”

Blue Devil Notes:

•  Freshman Katie Trees made her college debut playing the final three minutes of the match.

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