Duke Falls, 1-0, In ACC Tournament Quarterfinals To Boston College

Wednesday, November 5

Cary, N.C.

2:30 p.m.

Duke University

12-5-3

Boston College (Quarterfinals)

13-4-2

#16/17 Duke

#13/10 Boston Col.

Duke Falls, 1-0, In ACC Tournament Quarterfinals To Boston College

11/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

CARY, N.C. ? The 14th-ranked Duke women's soccer team (12-5-3) continued its offensive struggles on Wednesday afternoon in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals as the fifth-seeded Blue Devils were shutout, 1-0, against 11th-ranked and fourth-seeded Boston College (13-4-2) at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.

“I thought Boston College did some things early to throw us off early in the match,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. “We are just struggling right now finding goals. I think the kids are still committed and are working hard. We are a tired team physically and mentally. We have to get some rest now.”
Both teams came out on the attack featuring five shots over the first 10 and a half minutes, but Boston College drew first blood in the 13th minute. Amy Caldwell sent the shot at the Duke goal that hit the crossbar. The ball bounced off the crossbar and landed in front of the goal where Brooke Knowlton headed in her eighth goal of the season.

The Blue Devils were not able to secure any excellent scoring opportunities in the first half and were outshot, 6-4, by the Eagles. Junior Elisabeth Redmond, sophomore Gretchen Miller, senior Lorraine Quinn and freshman Cody Newman each fired attempts at the Boston College goal.

Boston College's first half goal was only the seventh tally of the season the Blue Devils have given up in the first half.

Duke came out in the second half and took the first shot of the stanza off the leg of Redmond, but it was blocked by the Eagle defense. Boston College attempted the next two shots before the Blue Devils took control of the action with three straight corner kicks. Duke couldn't get anything past the stingy Eagle defense though.

Boston College came back to attempt the next two shots by Knowlton, but one was blocked and the second was saved by senior goalkeeper Cassidy Powers.

Duke made a late push for a goal as the Blue Devils attempted three shots over the final two minutes but could not slip anything by Boston College goalkeeper Jillian Mastroianni. Redmond sent a perfect corner kick in early in the 88th minute and sophomore Carey Goodman fired a shot that was blocked by the Eagle defense, which proved to be Duke's best scoring opportunity of the second half.

For the match, Boston College outshot Duke, 12-10, but the Blue Devils held a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks. Powers finished with three saves in the match, while Mastroianni also posted three saves. With the zero goals scored, Duke has now been shutout in four out of the last five matches, but the Blue Devil defense has been stellar allowing only two goals.

“Right now more than anything, we need some rest,” said Church. “We are going to take a couple of days off. We have to get our confidence back and we have to get our swagger back that we had earlier in the season. We have to continue to believe in ourselves. We are a very good team and can go far in the NCAA Tournament, but we have to get that attacking and aggressive mindset that we had earlier in the year.”

The loss for the Blue Devils marked the second straight year Duke has been bounced from the ACC Tournament in the quarterfinal round, but a year ago made a run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA College Cup.

Duke will next await the NCAA College Cup selection show, which will air on Monday, Nov. 10, between 8:00-8:30 p.m., on ESPN News.

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