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7 p.m.
Women's Soccer
at Virginia Tech
Quotes: Duke 1, Northwestern 0
11/20/2016 6:31:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Northwestern at Duke
11/20/16
Blue Devil Quotes
Head Coach Robbie Church Quotes 11/20/16
Thoughts on the performance today:
“I thought we played really well. Sunday games are tough. We put in a lot of hard work on Friday night, and to be able to come back and dominate this team was big. We locked in and we didn't give them anything. Obviously, I thought we weren't as sharp as we've been the whole time in front of goal, but besides that, I thought we were really, really good. This [Northwestern] team was 16-2 with a 25 RPI, so they're a great team, and we just dominated and kept them in their half of the field for the most part. Then we got tired at the end and started losing some of our pressure and had some bad fouls that made it a little bit closer at the end. But from Friday to Sunday, I thought it was an absolutely fantastic performance.”
Would you have liked to score more goals today?
“Obviously, we would have liked to score more goals today. But, when [Northwestern] put 7 or 9 in the box, it's not easy to score goals. When you put it wide, they're good defensively, and they've only given up six goals, so that's just the seventh goal of the year for them. That's a phenomenal number and you can see why: they're big in the box, they're strong in the box, their goalkeeper's good. I'm very happy with our performance.”
On Ella Stevens's injury and her goal:
“She's sore a little bit, it's that time of year; Mia [Gyau]'s also got a little bit of a pull. It's that time of year where we've got some nagging injuries, but nothing that Kristi [Hall] thinks is going to keep anybody out. The ball kind of crossed in the box on Ella's goal, she had a nice little flick, and then being able to get in behind the goalkeeper. She's tricky – if you're not tight with her, if you give her any space, any opening, she's going to be able to find goals.”
Your thoughts on Northwestern's strategy in the game:
“They've had some injuries up front and we knew that. We knew they would sit back and try to catch us on a counter. We just had to read that and I think we were really smart with that; we did a good job of reading that. Our back players did a really good job of stepping up and winning balls. Our midfield at the end, I thought, got a little bit tired, and a little bit flat at times. But overall, just an unbelievable performance.”
On Duke's response to Northwestern's pressure:
“They did have four or five minutes of good pressure there. We were getting tired and we made some tired decisions, but again, you could see in Christina [Gibbons] and Lizzy [Raben], we've got good leadership on the field. It's not like basketball or football where you call a timeout and bring them all together and talk; it's got to be done by the leadership on the field. We've got good leaders and smart soccer players; we knew we had to settle down, hold the ball a little bit more, try to go to corners. Our clock management was good, and decision making in terms of clock management was very good.
Are you frustrated at all with the first half, putting 15 shots at them and only coming away with one goal?
“Yes and no. We created opportunities – I'd be more frustrated if we didn't have shots. We were living on their end of the field. That's part of the game; they put a lot of people behind the ball, and they didn't give us anything close, so we settled for some shots. We knew [the goal] was going to come, we tried to play a little bit quicker before they could set up. But I would have been much more frustrated if we didn't have the domination that we had.”
On Ella's composure in big games as a freshman:
“She's had a phenomenal year for us. It doesn't matter what class she is- she's a great soccer player. Great soccer players enjoy the moment; these are the ones that they live for, these are the ones they step up for. It's playing in these games in a national tournament and helping their team advance.”
Freshman Ella Stevens
On the goal she scored:
“Honestly, I don't remember. The ball came in and I think I tried to head it and I got turned around. It bounced right in front of the goal and I just flicked it in.”
How it feels to contribute to the team with the goal:
“I'm really glad that I could contribute. Especially it being a 1-0 game. That goal ended up being really important. I'm glad we were able to get it somewhat early in the first half. I'm glad we were able to get it into the back of the net.”
On how the team feels now:
“I think the team is just happy to spend another week together and we get to eat turkey as a family so that will be fun.”
Senior Lizzy Raben
On how it feels to have what might be her last game at Koskinen end like this:
“I think it was a really great team win and I'm just really happy we're moving on to the next round. It was really all I could have asked for.”
How the defense prepared for Northwestern and their counter attacks:
“We talked about that before the game that we expected to have a lot of possession and that their chances would come off of counter attacks. That was all the defense - just being really organized so that way, if the ball came at us, we'd be the first to win it. That was something that we talked about and executed really well.”
On Ella Stevens' growth this season:
“Ella [Stevens] has been awesome for us. She has really stepped. Since we've had injuries, different players have had to step up and she has just really taken on that role. She has been big time for us. She has had some goals in really clutch games. I'm really proud of her to get the goal today and she's earned it.”
On the pregame traditions and if they are continuing this season:
“Oh yeah. We add different ones. They are just as weird. We did them all today so we'll keep doing them.”
On the team's Thanksgiving plans:
“In the past when we've made it to the Elite Eight, we've gone to Christina Gibbons' house and her mom makes this incredible Thanksgiving dinner. So depending on whether we are home or away for the next game, we'll definitely be hitting her house and we're all excited for that.”
On how she settled the team down during Northwestern's offensive flurry in the second half:
“No matter what, a team is going to have its moment. The game comes and goes in waves so we knew Northwestern was going to have momentum at some point. I think that's just all the senior players and leaders on the field really taking control and settling the game down where when could. I think everyone's gamesmanship at the end was really awesome. And will help us go on.”
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
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