No. 10 Duke Upset By No. 22 Yale, 2-1, In NCAAs

Sunday, November 13

New Haven, Conn.

1 p.m.

Duke University

14-6-1

Yale

15-3-1

#11/10 Duke

#25/22 Yale

GoDuke.com Q&A With Midfielder Darby Kroyer

No. 10 Duke Upset By No. 22 Yale, 2-1, In NCAAs

11/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

NEW HAVEN, CONN.- The 10th-ranked Duke Women's Soccer team had its season come to a close on Sunday in New Haven, Conn., as 22nd-ranked Yale collected a goal with one second remaining to upset the Blue Devils, 2-1, at the Yale Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium in the second round of the NCAA College Cup.

With two of the top defenses in the nation going up against each other, both played to their billing in the first half keeping the score knotted, 0-0. Yale held a 5-3 shot advantage and the Bulldogs collected three corner kicks over the first 45 minutes of play.

After a scoreless first half, Duke, a No. 3 seed, grabbed a 1-0 lead when midfielder Darby Kroyer scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season off a scramble in front off an assist from senior Carolyn Ford. Kroyer, a native of San Ramon, Calif., concluded her junior campaign with goals in each of the final four matches and notched six goals over the last nine matches.

The Bulldogs, though, answered just 1:41 later. Freshman Natasha Mann fired a hard shot from nearly 20 yards out into the lower left corner. It was her first career goal.

“We were fortunate to get the first goal,” said Duke head coach Robbie Church. “The turning point really came when they scored right after we scored. [Yale] outworked us. They took us out of our rhythm in the first half and beat us to a few balls. In the second half we played better.”

As the match appeared to be heading to overtime, Yale's Crysti Howser settled a Maggie Westfal throw in, and sent a pass to Laurel Karnes, who knocked it in from right in front of the goal with one second remaining, setting off a wild celebration. When order was restored, one second was put on the clock, but Duke could only muster a long shot from the midfield off the kickoff.

Chloe Beizer played all 90 minutes and made three saves in goal for Yale. Sophomore Allison Lipsher finished with four saves for Duke, which allowed two goals for only the third time this season. Duke and Yale were playing for the second time this year. The Blue Devils won 1-0 on Sept. 2, the Bulldogs' first game of the season. The Bulldogs also improved to 9-0 in the friendly confines of the Soccer-Lacrosse Stadium.

For the game, Yale held an 11-9 shot advantage. With her assist on Duke's lone goal, senior Ford finished her career with 22 assists, which ranks third all-time on the Blue Devil charts.

It marks the second time out of the last three years that Duke was the higher seeded team and had to travel on the road and came away with a upset loss in the first two rounds of the NCAA College Cup. In 2003, Duke traveled to Texas A&M as the Blue Devils fell, 2-1. Last season, Duke was sent to second-ranked Virginia, but managed to upend the Cavaliers, 3-0, to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16.

Duke concludes the season with a 14-6-1 overall record and will graduate eight seniors in the spring. The Blue Devils will return eight starters next season, including five of the top six scorers from 2005.

Head Coach Robbie Church Quotes

On the seniors:

”We've had some great victories with this group of seniors. This senior class has really established our program.”

On the first game this season versus Yale:
”It was a different game from the first time we played. It was more physical. We're a possession team and in this game we just couldn't keep possession.”

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