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On This Date: Duke Punches Ticket to College Cup
11/25/2020 8:52:00 AM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM, N.C. - The top-seeded and third-ranked Duke women's soccer team scored a pair of second half goals to earn a 2-0 victory over Long Beach State in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals on Nov. 25, 2011 to advance to the NCAA College Cup for the second time in program history.
Duke's goals came seven minutes apart midway through the second half and were the 11th and 12th of the NCAA Tournament for the Blue Devils. Redshirt sophomore Kim DeCesare registered what proved to be the game winner off an assist from sophomore Mollie Pathman. Gilda Doria clinched the win with her first career goal.
"I thought we started the game great," said Duke head coach Robbie Church. "I thought we were focused. I thought we started well. The shots we had were really good shots. They were really good looks. I even liked that we finished the last 15 minutes of the half. And Carla said it best in the locker room - we've been a second half team. We haven't had a start that put us way behind and the second half, just something clicks with this group. I think they felt like we were the better team. We had to finish the things. I thought we had two fantastic goals."
In the first half, the Blue Devils dominated play, but were unsuccessful in the final third resulting in a 0-0 ledger through the first 45 minutes. Defensively, Duke was outstanding, allowing Long Beach State just one shot in the half.
After weathering a few flurries of action from Long Beach State in the early minutes of the second half, Duke took a 1-0 lead with a header from DeCesare. Pathman broke loose down the left flank, beat the Long Beach State defender to the endline and fired a perfect cross to the back post for DeCesare to head home for her fourth goal of the year.
That goal jumpstarted the Duke attack and just over seven minutes later, Doria got into the scoring action. Doria started the play with a corner kick served into the box. The ball bounced around and popped out to Doria near the top of the 18-yard box where she struck a laser with her left foot into the net.
With the victory, Duke went on to face Wake Forest for the third time that season in the NCAA College Cup.
#GoDuke
Duke's goals came seven minutes apart midway through the second half and were the 11th and 12th of the NCAA Tournament for the Blue Devils. Redshirt sophomore Kim DeCesare registered what proved to be the game winner off an assist from sophomore Mollie Pathman. Gilda Doria clinched the win with her first career goal.
"I thought we started the game great," said Duke head coach Robbie Church. "I thought we were focused. I thought we started well. The shots we had were really good shots. They were really good looks. I even liked that we finished the last 15 minutes of the half. And Carla said it best in the locker room - we've been a second half team. We haven't had a start that put us way behind and the second half, just something clicks with this group. I think they felt like we were the better team. We had to finish the things. I thought we had two fantastic goals."
In the first half, the Blue Devils dominated play, but were unsuccessful in the final third resulting in a 0-0 ledger through the first 45 minutes. Defensively, Duke was outstanding, allowing Long Beach State just one shot in the half.
After weathering a few flurries of action from Long Beach State in the early minutes of the second half, Duke took a 1-0 lead with a header from DeCesare. Pathman broke loose down the left flank, beat the Long Beach State defender to the endline and fired a perfect cross to the back post for DeCesare to head home for her fourth goal of the year.
That goal jumpstarted the Duke attack and just over seven minutes later, Doria got into the scoring action. Doria started the play with a corner kick served into the box. The ball bounced around and popped out to Doria near the top of the 18-yard box where she struck a laser with her left foot into the net.
With the victory, Duke went on to face Wake Forest for the third time that season in the NCAA College Cup.
#GoDuke
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