Women's Soccer Upends Virginia, 2-0; Advances To Elite Eight

Saturday, November 22

Charlottesville, Va.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

15-5-3

Virginia (Sweet 16)

15-5-3

Duke

#16/11 Virginia

Blue Devils Listed 10th In Preseason Top Drawer Soccer Rankings

Women's Soccer Upends Virginia, 2-0; Advances To Elite Eight

11/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The 15th-ranked and third-seeded Duke women's soccer team downed 11th-ranked and second-seeded Virginia on Saturday, 2-0, to advance to the NCAA College Cup Elite Eight for the second straight year.

Duke improves to 15-5-3 on the season and will next play at UCLA in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 7:00 p.m. Virginia's season comes to a close with a record of 15-5-3. The 15 wins on the season is tied for the most posted by Head Coach Robbie Church during his eight years with the Blue Devils.

The Cavaliers had the better of the chances in the first half and nearly took a 1-0 lead when Meghan Lenczyk's shot got past Duke goalkeeper Cassidy Powers, but senior defender Kelly McCann cleared it in mid-air just as it was crossing the line. The Blue Devils took advantage of one of their few chances minutes later as Lorraine Quinn's cross found KayAnne Gummersall in the box, who chipped a one-timer over the keeper and into the net in the 16th minute.

“The first goal changed the complexion of the game,” said Church. “They were sharp early and we got them; it really changed the whole momentum of the game.”

A native of Wilmette, Ill., Gummersall now owns a team-best 14 goals on the year, which ranks tied for the fourth most in Duke single-season history. The forward has now registered a goal in each of Duke's NCAA College Cup contests in 2008 versus Radford, William & Mary and Virginia.

At the end of the first half, the Blue Devils held a 1-0 lead even though the Cavaliers outshot Duke, 6-3.

In the second half, Virginia continued to pressure and create chances, but it was Duke who was able to capitalize on its one chance. On its only shot of the second half, junior Elisabeth Redmond gathered a loose ball at the top of the box and fired a shot just inside the post to make the score 2-0 in the 65th minute.

A product of Morristown, N.J. Redmond now owns 12 goals on the season to rank eighth on Duke's single-season goals list. After not scoring any goals the final six matches prior to the NCAA College Cup, Redmond has scored two goals in the tournament.

Virginia held a 9-1 shot advantage in the second half but the Duke defense proved too strong for the Cavaliers.

Powers, a senior from San Ramon, Calif., registered her ninth shutout of the season as she posted three saves. Her nine shutouts matches Duke's single season record. Overall, the Duke defense has recorded shutouts in five out of the last eight matches and two in a row. The Blue Devils have allowed only three goals over the last eight matches and has posted a school-record 13 shutouts on the season.

For the game, Virginia outshot Duke, 15-4. Gummersall took three shots, while Redmond connected on her only attempt of the match.

“Our midfielders didn't give them [Virginia] good looks,” said Church. “They made them move the ball more east/west instead of north/south. We wanted to force them into taking more long balls. They (Virginia) are much better with shorter balls and out back-forwards were phenomenal in making them do just that.”

Last year, Duke advanced to the Elite Eight before falling, 3-2, at Notre Dame. Duke has now advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight five times in school history ? 1992, 1994, 2004, 2007 and 2008. The Blue Devils improved to 4-0 all-time against Virginia in the NCAA College Cup.

Notes:

- The 15 wins by Duke is tied for the third-most in Duke single season history (17 in 1992 & 1994; 15 in 2004).
- Duke last faced UCLA in the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2004 in Los Angeles, Calif., and fell, 2-0.
- Goalkeeper Cassidy Powers is now tied with Alison Lipsher and Melissa Carr on Duke's single-season shutouts list with nine. Lipsher notched nine shutouts in 2005 and 2006, while Carr had nine in 1994 and 1995.
- KayAnne Gummersall now owns 32 points on the season, which ranks tied for fifth on Duke's single-season charts, while Elisabeth Redmond owns 28 points to rank tied for eighth.
- As a team, Duke now owns 155 points ranks fourth on Duke's single-season list. The 53 goals ranks tied for fourth and the 49 assists ranks fifth on the Blue Devil single-season charts.
- Both KayAnne Gummersall and Elisabeth Redmond has five game-winning goals on the season.
- Elisabeth Redmond now owns 69 career points to rank sixth on Duke's all-time list. Her 23 goals is tied for ninth in the career charts.