No. 2 Duke Defeats Louisville, 1-0, in Regular Season Finale

Thursday, October 28

Louisville, Ky.

5 p.m.

Duke University

13-2-1, 7-2-1

Louisville

7-7-2, 3-6-1

Duke

Louisville

No. 2 Duke Defeats Louisville, 1-0, in Regular Season Finale

10/28/2021 8:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Freshman Michelle Cooper scored in the 36th minute and No. 2 Duke held off a late push from Louisville as the Blue Devils finished the regular season with a 1-0 victory at Lynn Stadium on Thursday.

Duke (13-2-1, 7-2-1 ACC) ends the regular season on a five-match win streak – not allowing a goal in that span – and now waits to find out its seed in the ACC Tournament, which begins Sunday, Oct. 31.

After early chances including a Mackenzie Pluck shot on goal in the 13th minute and Cooper missing the goal on an open look eight minutes later, the Clarkston, Mich., finally cashed in with her 10th tally of the season at the 35:21 mark. Sophomore Grace Watkins fed Cooper a pass in the midfield, and the freshman sprinted past the defender in front of her before dribbling around goalkeeper Gabby Kouzelos and firing her right-footed shot into the upper netting.

The Blue Devils maintained possession for the remainder of the half, but could not double the lead and went into the break holding onto the one-goal advantage.

The second half featured chances for both teams, as Duke finished the period with seven shots to Louisville's five attempts. In the 58th minute, a handball called against the Cardinals set Duke up with a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box. Graduate student Caitlin Cosme tried to go under the wall with a right-footed strike, but send it just wide of the post.

Three of Louisville's shot attempts came after the 70th minute as the Cardinals desperately sought an equalizer. The Blue Devils held strong, however, and negated every opportunity to earn their 10th shutout of the season.

Cooper and Pluck finished with three shot attempts each for the evening. Junior goalkeeper Ruthie Jones made one save in the first half and recorded her seventh complete-game shutout of the season.

NOTES

The 2021 season marks the 21st at Duke for head coach Robbie Church, where he is now 269-133-60.
The Blue Devils earned their 10th shutout of the season and their fifth consecutive clean sheet.
Duke's 7-2-1 record in ACC play will earn either a No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament, beginning Sunday, Oct. 31. This marks the 10th time under Church that the Blue Devils finish in the top five of the conference standings.
The Blue Devils improve to 4-1-1- away from home this season and 10-4-1 in their last 15 road matches.
Freshman Michelle Cooper is one goal shy of the Duke freshman record, set by Kelly Cobb (11 goals) in 2011.
Sophomore Grace Watkins notched her third assist of the season on Cooper's game-winner.
Junior goalkeeper Ruthie Jones earned her 17th career complete-game shutout and improves her save percentage on the season to .844. Her 0.45 goals against average leads the ACC.