Women?s Soccer Pounds Clemson, 6-0, On Senior Day

Sunday, October 26

Durham, N.C.

2:00 p.m.

Duke University

12-3-2, 4-2-2ACC

Clemson

5-9-1, 1-6-1ACC

Clemson

#12/11 Duke

Blue Devil Women's Soccer Set To Host NCAA Subregional Action On Friday

Women?s Soccer Pounds Clemson, 6-0, On Senior Day

10/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? On a day when six Duke women's soccer seniors were recognized prior to the match and played their final home regular season contest, the 10th-ranked Blue Devils pounded the Clemson Tigers in-route to a 6-0 victory on Sunday at Koskinen Stadium. With the victory, Duke improved to 12-3-2 overall and 4-2-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) action, while breaking an eight-game losing streak to Clemson.

“It is nice to put that to rest,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church on the losing streak to Clemson. “Clemson has always had our number. The kids played great as it has been a tough week coming back from Florida State, a couple of injuries and coming back from Miami. I am just very proud of how they bounced back.”

Kelly Hathorn, Sheila Kramer, Kelly McCann, Christie McDonald, Cassidy Powers and Lorraine Quinn each were recognized prior to the match for all they have done for the Blue Devils since arriving in Durham. Duke also held a moment of silence in remembrance of Powers' late father, Gerard, who passed away on July 28, 2008 from cancer.

“It was a our senior day so we were all very excited,” said Quinn. “We have looked forward to this since our freshman season so we came out and we were very energetic. We knew we hadn't beaten Clemson since we have been here so we were very excited about it.”

Duke wasted no time getting on the board as the Blue Devils registered their quickest goal of the season as Quinn blasted a 25-yard shot into the left side of the net for her fifth goal of the year to give Duke a 1-0 lead. The Blue Devils stayed on the attack with five shots over the next 17 minutes before junior KayAnne Gummersall connected on her 10th goal of the season.

“It opened the game up for us and gave us confidence right from the start of the game,” commented Quinn on her opening goal. “We moved the ball around and kept attacking. That goal early like that allowed us to attack and get after it.”

Gummersall, who is from Wilmette, Ill., made a great run through two defenders and just got by a diving Clemson goalkeeper, Paula Pritzen, before hitting from 10 yards out at the 20:41 mark. The Blue Devils added one more goal in the 24th minute as McDonald fired a shot from the left side from 20 yards out that hit a Tiger defender and went into the net for an own goal.

At the end of the first 45 minutes, Duke held a 3-0 lead and outshot Clemson, 6-2.

“I thought we were aggressive in both the passing and off the dribble,” said Church. “We were running at them all day in the seems and gaps. We finished well today. This is what we are looking for -- to get an attacking mentality. I think we had that today.”

In the second half, Gummersall added her team-best 11th goal at the 61:20 mark as sophomore Gretchen Miller sent a through ball from the back that just got through. Gummersall slotted the ball past Pritzen to put the Blue Devils ahead 4-0.

Gummersall netted her third multi-goal game of the season and now leads the Blue Devils with 11 goals and 25 points, which are both career highs. Her 11 goals on the season ranks seventh on Duke's single-game scoring charts. The school record is 18 held by Kelly Walbert, who is the head coach at Virginia Tech.

In the final six minutes of the match, sophomore Carey Goodman and freshman Chelsea Canepa each registered goals. Goodman, who is from Greensboro, N.C., posted a header goal off a free kick from sophomore Meaghan FitzGerald in the 84th minute. Canepa, who is out of Phoenix, Ariz., notched her second career goal at the 89:50 mark as she hit a first time shot off a through ball from Lynnea Pappas.

For the game, Duke outshot Clemson, 15-3. Gummersall and Hathorn led the Blue Devils with three shots each, while Cody Newman, Quinn and Marybeth Kreger each attempted two.

“I think we passed the ball better this game,” said Church. “We connected more passes, our spacing was better and we moved off the ball more. We passed and moved and though we just did a really good job of that today.”

Powers, a product of San Ramon, Calif., picked up the win in goal and played 74 minutes. Freshman Emily Nahas came off the bench to play the final 15 minutes in the net. Neither goalkeeper faced a shot on goal. Pritzen finished the match with three saves in 90 minutes for Clemson.

“It was pretty exciting,” commented Powers on senior day and getting the early goal. “Being senior day, everyone was really pumped. Getting that early goal let everyone relax, play our game and it took the pressure off. It allowed me to relax and think about the game.”

The Blue Devils now own 45 goals in 2008, which ranks as the tied for seventh most scored in Duke single season history. The school record is 67 from back in 1989. Duke's 132 points this season also ranks seventh on the Blue Devil charts.

Duke will close out the season at Virginia on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 p.m., followed by a road match at Virginia Tech on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2:00 p.m.

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