Cooper's Golden Goal Lifts No. 6 Duke Past Irish, 1-0

Thursday, October 21

Durham, N.C.

7 p.m.

Duke University

11-2-1, 5-2-1

Notre Dame

12-3-1, 6-2-0

Notre Dame

Duke

Cooper's Golden Goal Lifts No. 6 Duke Past Irish, 1-0

10/21/2021 11:03:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)ROBBIE CHURCH POSTGAME MICHELLE COOPER POSTGAME DELANEY GRAHAM POSTGAME

DURHAM – Freshman Michelle Cooper scored 50 seconds into overtime to lift No. 6 Duke to a 1-0 win over No. 15 Notre Dame Thursday night at Koskinen Stadium.

With the Blue Devils possessing the ball early in the extra period, senior Mackenzie Pluck found graduate student Tess Boade in the midfield with open space. Boade sent a long through ball behind the Notre Dame defense that Cooper sprinted into and dribbled by Irish goalkeeper Ashley Naylor, who charged out to challenge the attempt. The Clarkston, Mich., native calmly buried her left-footed shot into the open net to give Duke (11-2-1, 5-2-1 ACC) its golden goal in a thrilling back-and-forth contest.

The goal was the ninth of the season for Cooper, who has now found the back of the net in each of the last three matches.

Notre Dame (12-3-1, 6-2-0 ACC) finished with an 8-6 advantage in shot attempts, including seven in the second half. The Irish were able to sustain pressure in the attacking third over the final 30 minutes of regulation time and had numerous prime scoring opportunities. Duke junior goalkeeper Ruthie Jones made her lone save of the night on an Audrey Weiss shot from the top of the box in the 78th minute. In the 89th minute, a Blue Devil handball set up a free kick for Sammi Fisher from 20 yards out, but Fisher's strike nicked the Duke defensive wall and went just over the crossbar.

The first half saw each team have elongated periods of possession, beginning with the Irish from the opening kick. Notre Dame pressed the Duke back line and was aggressive offensively, putting together multiple runs into the box. Forward Olivia Wingate drew a yellow card on sophomore Emily Royson in the 13th minute, as she was taken down while trying to get a step on the defender up the left side.

A nifty passing play by Notre Dame found Kati Druzina open to the right of Jones in the 14th minute, but Druzina's attempt veered wide of the post.

Duke was on the attack from the start of the second half, forcing numerous turnovers while prodding the Irish back line. The Blue Devils came up with two great looks at the go-ahead tally in the 52nd minute, beginning with a Boade left-footed shot from just outside the box that Naylor had to dive to stop. Seconds later, sophomore Maggie Graham cut off a Notre Dame clearing attempt and had only Naylor to beat, but her shot was sent just right of goal.

After the Blue Devils weathered the final storm from the Irish, Pluck raced up the pitch as the clock ticked under 10 seconds remaining. She worked her way towards the middle of the attacking third and had a good look at goal just before time expired, but she fired her attempt high of the net and the two teams were forced to decide the match in overtime.

Cooper's game-winner was Duke's first overtime goal since the NCAA Tournament in May 2021, when Sophie Jones sent the Blue Devils to the Round of 16 with a tally in double overtime against Arizona State.

Duke closes out its home regular-season slate on Sunday, Oct. 24 versus top-ranked Florida State. The match will serve as the Blue Devils' senior day, as each of the team's five seniors – Delaney Graham, Marykate McGuire, Mackenzie Pluck, Sydney Simmons and Holland Stam – will be honored in a pregame ceremony. First kick is set for 2 p.m. on ACC Network.

NOTES
The 2021 season marks the 21st at Duke for head coach Robbie Church, where he is now 267-133-60.
Church also picked up his 450th career win. In his 36 years as a head coach – which includes nine years leading men's programs and 26 full seasons on the women's side – his record is now 450-247-74.
The Blue Devils earned their eighth shutout of the season and their third consecutive clean sheet. The last time Duke posted shutouts in three straight games was Oct. 9-18, 2020.
Duke improved to 8-1-0 at home this season and 44-5-7 at Koskinen since the start of the 2017 campaign.
The Blue Devils are 5-1-0 this season against teams ranked in the United Soccer Coaches national poll.
Freshman Michelle Cooper's nine goals lead all ACC freshmen this season and are the most by a Duke newcomer since Ella Stevens had 10 in 2016.
With a secondary assist on the overtime game-winner, senior Mackenzie Pluck now has an assist in five of her last six matches. She leads Duke with seven helpers this season.
Graduate student Tess Boade has eight points in her last four games (three goals, two assists). Boade leads the team with 11 points in ACC play.
Senior Delaney Graham made her 75th career appearance and 73rd start for the Blue Devils. She played the entire 91 minutes.
Junior goalkeeper Ruthie Jones earned her 15th career complete-game shutout and improves her save percentage on the season to .825. Her 0.52 goals against average leads the ACC.

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