Duke & LSU Close With 2-2 Tie in the Nike Classic

Sunday, September 20

Durham, N.C.

2:00 p.m.

Duke University

4-3-2

LSU

4-2-2

OT 3

OT 4

LSU

Duke

Duke & LSU Close With 2-2 Tie in the Nike Classic

9/20/2009 5:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

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DURHAM, N.C. - The Duke women's soccer team closed out the Duke Nike Classic on Sunday afternoon with a 2-2 tie against LSU at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils claimed the Duke Nike Classic title with a 4-1 goal differential over top-ranked North Carolina.

The Blue Devils held a 2-0 lead at halftime on Sunday but allowed a goal 2:19 into the second half and gave up an own-goal with 5:57 remaining in the second half before finishing in a 2-2 tie following two overtimes.

"We played some of the best soccer of the year today and the weekend to," said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. "It is frustrating for all of us because we played well enough to win. Key decisions at different points, opportunities in front of the goal -- the kids are working so hard and trying so hard. We have talked about it a couple of times that we over-try in there; we can let things relax. It is a very difficult pill to swallow, but we have to move on."

Duke moved to 4-3-2 overall and will now open Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) action on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7:00 p.m. LSU now owns a 4-2-2 overall record.

A 10-member All-Tournament team was announced following action this weekend -- Tara Campbell (Duke), Kristi Eveland (UNC), Malorie Rutledge (LSU), Rachel Givan (UNC), Cody Newman (Duke), Courtney Alexander (LSU), Elisabeth Redmond (Duke), Ashlyn Harris (UNC), Ashlyn Harris (UNC), Lizzie Hamersly (Auburn), Amy Howard (Auburn). Jessica McDonald of North Carolina was named Offensive MVP, while Whitney Engen of North Carolina was selected Defensive MVP.

Both Duke and LSU came out on the attack in the first half as there were six shots over the first eight minutes of action before LSU had an excellent scoring chance in the 11th minute. LSU's Rachel Yepez drove down the middle of the field past two Duke defenders before letting go a blast that hit he center of the crossbar.

The Blue Devils came back with Cody Newman's third shot of the contest that was blocked and then senior Elisabeth Redmond made a great run through the Tiger defense before firing off a shot that was inside the left post but LSU goalkeeper Mo Isom made a diving stop with one hand to keep the match scoreless.

Duke took the lead in the 17th minute as Gretchen Miller sent a perfect direct kick from 45 yards out to senior KayAnne Gummersall in the box for a header goal. Gummersall, who is from Wilmette, Ill., notched her fifth goal of the season and 28th of her career. She moved into a tie for fourth place on Duke's career goals list along with Caitlin Connolly and Carolyn Riggs. Her 65 points is one shy of eighth all-time.

The Blue Devils continued to stay on the attack as Duke held a 5-2 shot lead over the next 17 minutes.

In the 37th minute, Duke freshman Maddy Haller sent a cross just outside the box to junior Marybeth Kreger, made a couple of touches before sending in her first goal of the season to the near post from 15 yards.

As the first half was coming to a close, Blue Devil freshman goalkeeper Tara Campbell kept up her excellent play with a huge save at the 43:59 mark. Courtney Alexander fired a 28-yard shot that was heading just under the crossbar before Campbell leaped to get a hand on the ball to send it over the goal.

At the end of the first half, Duke held a 16-6 lead in shots.

"We had some great looks that could have made this game 3-0 and then the game is over," said Church. "That is the real disappointment. We haven't learned to come out in the second half after putting a good half on and just kill their spirits. I don't know if it is a maturity thing about our young team. That is twice we have played a great first half and we gave up a goal in the first five minutes of the second half -- it just changes the whole complex of the team."

The Blue Devils lacked focus coming out in the second half as LSU grabbed a goal of its own as Rachel Yepez found Malorie Rutledge in the box where she nailed a 15-yard shot for her fourth goal of the year.

Duke had numerous scoring chances in the second half but couldn't put anything through the posts as the Blue Devils outshot the Tigers 13-2. LSU kept trying to put pressure on the Blue Devils at times and its work paid off with 5:57 remaining in the contest. The Tigers served the ball into the box and Duke's Miller tried to kick the ball out off the field, but it went into the top of Duke's goal to even the score, 2-2.

Over the final five minutes of regulation, LSU withstood a furious rally of shots which featured three from Redmond, two from Gummersall and one from junior Lynnea Pappas.

In the first overtime, Duke outshot LSU, 3-1, with Redmond taking two shots and sophomore Chelsea Canepa attempting one. Isom notched two saves on the shots from the Blue Devils. The second overtime featured one shot by LSU's Rutledge that was saved by Campbell, while Redmond fired a shot that was saved by Isom.

For the game, the Blue Devils outshot the Tigers, 33-10, while LSU held a 10-8 advantage in corner kicks.

Campbell, a product of Cincinnati, Ohio, notched three saves and Isom finished the game with nine saves for LSU.

"We have to move on and we will move on," commented Church. "We have to get ready for North Carolina starting tomorrow."

In the first match of the afternoon, No. 1 ranked North Carolina and Auburn battled to a 0-0 tie in two overtimes.

Notes:

Of the four matches this weekend in the Duke Nike Classic, three of them went into two overtimes.
Duke has now posted a 50-11-7 record at home in Koskinen Stadium over the nine years under Head Coach Robbie Church. The Blue Devils are 20-2-5 over the last three years.
Duke tied UNC for the team title but outscored the Tar Heels 4-1 in the two contests to win the championship. Both Duke and UNC finished the weekend with one victory and one tie.

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