Blue Devils Blank Terrapins, 1-0, In College Park

Sunday, October 12

College Park, Md.

1:00 p.m.

Duke University

11-2-1/3-1-1

Maryland

5-7-1/1-4-0

#12/11 Duke

Maryland

Blue Devils Blank Terrapins, 1-0, In College Park

10/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

COLLEGE PARK, MD. ? The ninth-ranked Duke women's soccer team traveled to College Park, Md., on Sunday where the Blue Devils had not registered a victory since the 2000 campaign. In a hard-fought, typical Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) contest, Duke notched a 1-0 victory at Ludwick Field to improve to 11-2-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the ACC.

“It was a tough game,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. “I thought Maryland played really well. They didn't have a game in the mid-week, so they were waiting for us to come up here. They came out early and were quicker and faster. You could see our fatigue from playing a tough Wake Forest game on Thursday. As the half went on, we started to make some adjustments.”

The first 44 minutes of the opening half was a back-and-forth struggle for both teams, but the Blue Devils attempted the first six shots of the match.

Duke had a chance to get on the board in the 36th minute when Carey Goodman snapped off a good header, but Terrapin goalkeeper Mary Casey was able to recover and tip the ball over the crossbar to keep the score 0-0.

“I really thought the players coming off the bench really helped us -- with Gretchen Miller getting hurt early, she was unable to return,” said Church. “Meaghan FitzGerald came in and played center back and played really well. Sheila Kramer stepped in and played well also.”

Maryland had its best chance in the 41st minute when midfielder Megan Watson ripped a shot from 20 yards out on the left side. The ball was bending toward the near post and Blue Devil keeper Cassidy Powers tipped the ball to herself and secured the rebound to prevent the score.

But Duke would take a 1-0 lead into halftime thanks to a header by freshman defender Ashley Rape in the 43rd minute. Senior Shelia Kramer sent a corner kick from the far right side to the far corner of the six-yard box where Rape carved out some space and finished into the left side of the Terrapin goal.

“The goal was a big-time goal,” said Church. “Sheila served a great corner kick and Ashley headed it home. It looked like to me it went off the inside of the goal post. It was great timing of the goal, late in the half. Sometimes goals are almost like double-goals, when you score late in the half like that. It gave us a 1-0 lead heading into halftime and we were very confident with that lead.”

The goal by Rape, who is from Dallas, Texas, was her third of the season and all three have come off headers from corner kicks.

At the end of the first half, Duke held a 9-3 shot advantage.

Maryland came out of the break strong, nearly posting the tying goal in the 47th minute. Brittany Cummins sent a cross from the far right corner to the middle of the Duke 18-yard box. Annesia Faulker made a run down the center of the field and got on the end of the cross with a leaping volley that barely caught the crossbar.

Casey played well in goal for Maryland as she totaled several saves, including stopping sophomore Marybeth Kreger in the 74th minute. Kreger appeared to be wide open for an easy shot, but Casey came off of her line and didn't allow Kreger time to setup for a good strike.

Powers, who is a senior from San Ramon, Calif., also tallied a great game in goal for the Blue Devils as she collected two saves on the day, which included a diving save in the 84th minute to preserve her fifth shutout of the season.

The Blue Devils held a 14-9 shot advantage for the match. Junior Elisabeth Redmond led Duke with five shots, while senior Lorraine Quinn, junior KayAnne Gummersall and Kreger added two attempts.

“It was a typical ACC battle,” said Church. “It wasn't the prettiest game that has been played all year, but it was one that you have to gut out and grind out as the game goes along.”

Duke will next travel to Tallahassee, Fla., on Sunday, Oct. 19 for a 1:00 p.m., contest versus Florida State.

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