Duke Uses Second Half Surge To Down Ohio State, 4-2

Sunday, September 14

Columbus, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Duke University

6-1-0

Ohio State

0-4-2

Duke

Ohio State

Redmond to Travel With U-23 U.S. National Team

Duke Uses Second Half Surge To Down Ohio State, 4-2

9/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

COLUMBUS, OHIO ? For the second match, the ninth-ranked Duke women's soccer team used a second half scoring barrage to knock off a team on its home field as the Blue Devils downed Ohio State, 4-2, on Sunday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio. The match was played during very windy conditions, which featured winds approximately 22 miles per hour with gusts up to 39.

The Blue Devils closed out the weekend with seven second half goals to improve to 6-1-0 on the season, while Ohio State fell to 0-4-2. On Sunday, Duke notched four goals in the second half after posting three on Friday evening in only three minutes and 52 seconds at Dayton.

“It sounds funny I am sure, but one of the key plays from the entire game was the coin toss,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. “The wind was so bad so we had chose to take the wind at our back in the second half. We thought that if we could get through the first half, which we almost did, we would have the wind at our back to finish the game. We actually played pretty well in the first half, but for us to play that well into the wind was a key factor.”

Over the first 40 minutes of the match, both teams were very even with Duke holding a slight edge in shots with eight to Ohio State's seven. Junior Elisabeth Redmond had three early attempts, while defender Christie McDonald had two shots as well.

With only 56 seconds remaining in the first stanza, Ohio State got on the board first with a goal from Taylor Moront, off assists from Ashley Bowyer and Caitlyn Martin.

It marked the second straight match and only the second time this season Duke allowed a first half goal and went into halftime trailing, 1-0. At the end of the first 45 minutes, both teams were dead even with eight shots each.

Duke came out on the attack in the second half taking the first three shots before evening the match, 1-1, off Redmond's seventh goal of the season. Redmond, who is from Morristown, N.J., blasted a 10-yard shot into the left corner of the net in the 50th minute.

“Elisabeth's goal early in the second half was huge and it gave us confidence,” said Church. “From that point on, we did a good job of going forward.”

The Blue Devils were then able to take their first lead of the contest off the foot of junior KayAnne Gummersall at the 68:10 mark, off an assist from senior Lorraine Quinn.

“The second goal was one of the prettiest goals all year with Lorraine going solo for about 40 yards,” said Church. “She played a perfect timed ball across the front of the box to KayAnne.”

Duke waited only 25 seconds before making the score, 3-1, as Redmond fired a 25-yard shot in which Buckeye goalkeeper Lauren Robertson couldn't hold on to. Redmond's goal was her second of the match and marks the third time this season she has registered multi-goals. She also posted her team-best fourth game-winning goal of the year.

Freshman Cody Newman added her second goal of the season in the 76th minute as sophomore Meaghan FitzGerald sent in a corner kick to Newman, who headed in Duke's fourth goal of the second half.

Ohio State added a late goal off a free kick from Ashley Bowyer to Paige Maxwell, who headed it to Brooke Taylor for a goal in the 81st minute.

Duke closed the match with an 16-11 shot advantage, including an 8-3 lead in the second half. Senior Cassidy Powers continued to play well in goal for the Blue Devils as she played 78 minutes and posted three saves. Freshman Emily Nahas came in to play the final 12 minutes for the Blue Devils and had one save. Robertson finished with six saves in the net for Ohio State.

“I am very proud [of this team],” said Church. “It is very, very tough on the road. Life on the road is very difficult at this level...we were able to weather the storm with both games. For us to have the ability to come back in both games is outstanding.”

Duke will return this weekend as the Blue Devils will host the annual Duke/adidas Classic on Friday, Sept. 19 and Sunday, Sept. 21. North Carolina and Georgia will open play at 5:00 p.m., on Friday followed by Duke versus Fordham. On Sunday, North Carolina will face Fordham at 12:00 p.m., followed by Duke versus Georgia at approximately 2:30 p.m.

“For Elisabeth to have eight goals in seven games right now, at the level we are playing at and the people we are playing, is big time,” said Church. “She is finishing great, finding corners, hitting on her opportunities and shooting off the dribble. She is making everybody else better because now they have to deal with her. Elisabeth is a very unselfish player and is playing at a very high level right now.”

Beginning this season, all Blue Devil home soccer contests will be ticketed events. Tickets will be $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for youth, while Duke students will have free admission with valid identification.

Duke Notes:

? Sunday's contest was aired live on the Big Ten Network.

? Elisabeth Redmond now owns three multi-goal games this season and four in her three-year career.

? Junior Jane Alukonis was injured in the first half with an ankle injury and only played 13 minutes.

? Elisabeth Redmond now owns 58 career points to move into 10th place on Duke's all-time points chart. She moved past Charlene Mulinger (54) and is now only one shy of Dena Paris (59).

? Elisabeth Redmond now owns eight goals this season, which matches a career high, which happened last year. With her next goal, Redmond will move into a tie for ninth place on Duke's single season goals scored list.

-d-u-k-e-