No. 21 Women's Soccer Falls, 3-0, To No. 2 UNC On Sunday Afternoon

Sunday, October 8

Durham, N.C.

2 p.m.

Duke University

North Carolina

Inside Access Sits Down With Rebecca Moros For A Video Q&A

No. 21 Women's Soccer Falls, 3-0, To No. 2 UNC On Sunday Afternoon

10/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.-- The second-ranked North Carolina Women's Soccer team came into Koskinen Stadium on Sunday afternoon and posted a 3-0 victory over 21st-ranked Duke in a contest that featured two of the top teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Tar Heels improved to 14-1 overall, 6-0 in the ACC, while the Blue Devils fell to 7-5-1, 3-2.

“We have to continue to get better and keep competing,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. “You cannot let down as they [Carolina] will punish you. I love playing Carolina because you have to play 90 minutes and it makes your team better. I have so much respect [for them] because if you do make a mistake they will take it away. We were not very far from tying that game up, we got tentative in the back and boom it is 2-0, 3-0 a minute later.”

North Carolina got on the scoreboard early in the first half as Duke was called for a questionable foul just outside of the Tar Heel box. Yael Averbuch blasted a free kick into the top left corner of the net from 24 yards away for her seventh goal of the season, which gave UNC a 1-0 lead.

The Blue Devils tried to get on the attack for much of the first half, but were called for offsides a total of seven times over the first 45 minutes. Duke only registered one shot in the first stanza that came with 32 minutes on the clock as senior Darby Kroyer fired a ball that went just high from 35 yards away.

Overall, North Carolina held a 4-1 shot advantage in the first half.

The Tar Heels took the first shot of the second half as Averbuch sent a ball high over the goal in the 35th minute and then the Blue Devils went on the attack. Duke's Sarah McCabe and KayAnne Gummersall were able to get the ball in front of the net in the 58th minute, but it was kicked out to give the Blue Devils their first corner kick of the day.

North Carolina then showed their offensive firepower as the Tar Heels collected two goals in a span of 44 seconds to increase their lead to 3-0. Freshman Whitney Engen and freshman Tobin Heath each notched goals off assists from senior Elizabeth Guess at the 62:24 and 63:08 times, respectively.

“When you play Carolina and have a lapse they will bury you,” said Church. “They scored the two goals there when we got a little tentative, didn't make the right decisions and were not as aggressive at that point.”

Duke had one last scoring opportunity with under four minutes remaining. Senior Lauren Tippets sent a corner kick into the box and senior Rebecca Moros took a shot but Tar Heel defender Ariel Harris had a defensive save that came back to Duke sophomore Christie McDonald, who headed a shot high over the crossbar.

In goal for the Blue Devils, junior Allison Lipsher finished with two saves in 90 minutes, while Tar Heel keeper Anna Rodenbough had her 11th shutout of the season. North Carolina outshot Duke, 11-4, for the contest.

With the victory, North Carolina earns one point towards the Carlyle Cup, which is a year-long competition between Duke and North Carolina. The Blue Devils lead the 2006-07 standings with a 1.5-1 advantage.

“We have to move on as we have to big, road ACC games [this week],” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. “We are at Wake Forest on Wednesday on national television and then at Maryland next Saturday and play in a very tough place.”

Next up for the Blue Devils is Wake Forest on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at 8:00 p.m. The contest will be aired live on Fox Soccer Channel in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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