Duke Takes Down NC State, 3-1, on the Road; Leads ACC Standings

 

October 9, 2016

 

RALEIGH, N.C. – Boasted by a key penalty kick save in the first half, junior goalkeeper EJ Proctor and the ninth-ranked Duke women’s soccer team took down 24^th-ranked NC State, 3-1, Sunday evening at Dail Soccer Stadium in Raleigh, N.C.

 

With the victory, the Blue Devils moved to 10-2-2 overall and 5-0-1 in the ACC, which is sole possession of first place in the very challenging league.  Duke is also off to its best league start in school history through six matches.

 

“It is a great win coming over here, a really good win for us,” said Duke head coach Robbie Church.  “I am very excited about it.  I am very, very proud of this group.”

 

The Wolfpack opened with the ball, but the Blue Devils caused a quick turnover and freshman Ella Stevens drove towards the box and launched a shot that went wide left in the opening 18 seconds.

 

Duke featured the first corner kick of the match, after junior Imani Dorsey’ shot deflected wide.  Ashton Miller placed a perfect ball to the head of Stevens, but her header went just wide of the far post in the fourth minute. 

 

After NC State took a couple of shots and started to get a little confidence, Duke countered as senior Christina Gibbons fed a perfect feed up into the box and Dorsey was taken down inside the 18.  The Blue Devils were awarded a penalty kick and Gibbons connected on her third goal of the season to give Duke a 1-0 lead in the 27^th minute.

 

NC State had a flurry of chances in the 38^th minute as Tziarra King fired a shot but Proctor made a leaping one-handed save, another Wolfpack shot was blocked and then NCSU was awarded a penalty kick off a corner kick as the Blue Devils had a hand ball in the box.

 

King stepped up for the penalty kick, but Proctor made a spectacular diving stop to her left to keep the score in favor of Duke, 1-0, at the 37:49 mark. 

 

“I just tried to read it at the last second and hope that I read it the right way,” said Proctor.  “I just so happened to do that so it worked out.”

 

Less than two minutes later Gibbons found a streaking Dorsey for a one-v-one chance, but her left-footed shot went right to the goalkeeper for the save. 

 

Duke nearly had the second goal on the board in the 42^nd minute as senior Toni Payne launched a long shot that NCSU keeper Sydney Wootten just got her hand on to save.  The ball came back forward and redshirt junior Malinda Allen punched in the goal, but was called offside.

 

In the 44^th minute, Allen headed a ball across the box to junior Casey Martinez.  A product of Towson, Md., Martinez timed a perfect cross in front of the goal to Stevens, who finished off her team-best seventh goal of the season to give Duke a 2-0 lead. 

 

At the half, Duke held an 8-7 shot advantage with Dorsey and Stevens attempting three each.  Duke entered the match with a 9-0 record when scoring the first goal of the match.

 

Stevens and Dorsey each attempted early second half shots for the Blue Devils, but Wootten saves both. 

 

In the 57^th minute, King got behind the defense and fired a left-footed shot towards the far post, but Proctor made another incredible, diving stop to her left to keep the score 2-0 in Duke’s favor.  On the corner kick following, Ricarda Walkling blasted a shot from outside the box where Blue Devil defender Morgan Reid was waiting to record the team save as she headed away the attempt. 

 

Duke responded by driving the ball down the middle of the pitch and Gibbons fired a shot that was just saved at the crossbar by Wootten.  Once again the ball came back down in front of the goal where Dorsey was charging.  A native of Elkridge, Md., Dorsey finished an easy goal to give her seven on the season.  The 5-7 midfielder now owns at least a goal or an assist in six out of the last seven matches.

 

At the 67:34 mark, NC State was able to break the Duke shutout streak.  Proctor punched out a corner kick that ended up at the feet of Walkling.  She fired in a shot and Kia Rankin redirected it into the Blue Devil goal to cut the lead to 3-1. 

 

Duke’s shutout streak ended at a season-best 489: 27 minutes, while also snapping a 12-game streak without allowing a goal versus the Wolfpack. 

 

The Blue Devils were able to play strong defense the rest of the way and come away with the victory.

 

For the match, Proctor finished the night with a season-high six saves over 90 minutes.  Wootten added eight saves for the Wolfpack on the night.

 

“EJ was fantastic today, said Church.  “Not only the penalty kick, she got one that came from the side she pushed over, the counter they had and she got the corner.  Every save for her was actually a big save for her today. They played a lot of balls in the box, had a lot of bodies around the box.  She was really good tonight.  For me, she was a star for us tonight.”

 

Duke outshot NC State, 15-14, for the match with Dorsey and Stevens each finishing with five attempts to pace the Blue Devils.

 

The Blue Devils won their 16^th straight match against NC State to move the series record to 22-10-1 all time. 

 

Duke will be off during the week before hosting Virginia Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.  It will mark senior night for six Blue Devil student-athletes –Allen, Payne, Gibbons, Krysia Sikora, Rebecca Quinn and Lizzy Raben.

 

#GoDuke

 

Notes:

• Christina Gibbons has totaled four assists over the last three matches since moving to the midfield. 
• Duke has outscored ACC opponents by a 15-3 ledger in six matches.

• Duke continues to be tied for the first in the ACC along with Notre Dame with a 4-0-1 record.
• The Blue Devils played without starters Taylor Racioppi, Kayla McCoy and Rebecca Quinn due to injuries.