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20 Years with Robbie Church: Duke Defeats UNC in 2015
6/28/2021 9:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
As head coach Robbie Church wrapped up his 20th season with the Blue Devils, GoDuke.com is looking back over the last 20 years highlighting top moments for Duke women's soccer under the direction of Church.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Duke women's soccer team ended a 10-year losing streak to rival North Carolina with 1-0 victory over the fifth-ranked Tar Heels on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Sophomore Imani Dorsey broke a scoreless tie in the 43rd minute by firing a shot into the upper netting off a feed from Ashton Miller. The goal ended several streaks for Duke including a 229:46 streak without a first half goal. The tally also was the first goal scored by the Blue Devils against the Tar Heels since 2010, and gave Duke its first lead against its rivals since its last win -- October 9, 2005.
"This is great, unbelievable," said Duke head coach Robbie Church. "I think I had brown hair in 2005 when we last beat them and obviously it's not brown anymore. What a great dynasty North Carolina is. To come over here and win on this field when they have a very good team, it's very satisfying. With all the work you put in, it's great. I'm so happy that the girls got to experience this."
The Blue Devils started off on the offensive quickly as freshman midfielder Taylor Racioppi fired the first shot for either squad just 2:05 into the match.
The contest abruptly turned into a defensive struggle for the two teams. The next shot of the match came at the 19:11 mark as a shot by North Carolina's Abby Elinsky was by blocked by the Blue Devil back line. Duke was able to hold the Tar Heels (11-3-1, 4-3-0) to just two shots overall in the first half.
After spending most of the half on the defensive, the Blue Devils were able to find a groove offensively in the final 15 minutes of the first period, coming up with two shots on goal.
In the second half, the Blue Devils turned to their defense and goaltending to hold the lead as the Tar Heels began to mount a heavy offensive attack. North Carolina outshot Duke 10-6 in the second half.
One of North Carolina's best chances came on a free kick from 25 yards out at 78:54. Midfielder Joanna Boyles took the free kick for the Tar Heels and wrapped the shot around the Blue Devil wall, but Duke goalkeeper E.J. Proctor was able to record one of her four second half saves on the play, keeping the score sheet clean.
The Blue Devils were not without their chances in the second half. In the 57th minute, Racioppi ripped a shot and nearly missed doubling the Duke lead as the ball clanged off the right goalpost before being cleared by the Tar Heels.
Dorsey tried to collect her second goal of the contest on a counterattack at 81:10 but was well defended and forced the ball high over the crossbar.
A header by Boyles nearly leveled the score at 86:26 but the ball whizzed just wide to the right of the net to keep the Blue Devils' hopes alive.
With under a minute remaining, center back Christina Gibbons cut off the Tar Heels' final quality opportunity with a slide tackle just outside the Duke 18-yard box and cleared the ball deep to seal the historic victory for the Blue Devils.
For the match, North Carolina outshot Duke, 12-11. Racioppi and freshman Kayla McCoy each registered three attempts.
The victory also marked the first time since the 1997 season that Duke put together three consecutive road shutouts.
The 2015 Blue Devils would go on to have a historic postseason run, making the program's third appearance in the national title game as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
#GoDuke
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Duke women's soccer team ended a 10-year losing streak to rival North Carolina with 1-0 victory over the fifth-ranked Tar Heels on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Sophomore Imani Dorsey broke a scoreless tie in the 43rd minute by firing a shot into the upper netting off a feed from Ashton Miller. The goal ended several streaks for Duke including a 229:46 streak without a first half goal. The tally also was the first goal scored by the Blue Devils against the Tar Heels since 2010, and gave Duke its first lead against its rivals since its last win -- October 9, 2005.
"This is great, unbelievable," said Duke head coach Robbie Church. "I think I had brown hair in 2005 when we last beat them and obviously it's not brown anymore. What a great dynasty North Carolina is. To come over here and win on this field when they have a very good team, it's very satisfying. With all the work you put in, it's great. I'm so happy that the girls got to experience this."
The Blue Devils started off on the offensive quickly as freshman midfielder Taylor Racioppi fired the first shot for either squad just 2:05 into the match.
The contest abruptly turned into a defensive struggle for the two teams. The next shot of the match came at the 19:11 mark as a shot by North Carolina's Abby Elinsky was by blocked by the Blue Devil back line. Duke was able to hold the Tar Heels (11-3-1, 4-3-0) to just two shots overall in the first half.
After spending most of the half on the defensive, the Blue Devils were able to find a groove offensively in the final 15 minutes of the first period, coming up with two shots on goal.
In the second half, the Blue Devils turned to their defense and goaltending to hold the lead as the Tar Heels began to mount a heavy offensive attack. North Carolina outshot Duke 10-6 in the second half.
One of North Carolina's best chances came on a free kick from 25 yards out at 78:54. Midfielder Joanna Boyles took the free kick for the Tar Heels and wrapped the shot around the Blue Devil wall, but Duke goalkeeper E.J. Proctor was able to record one of her four second half saves on the play, keeping the score sheet clean.
The Blue Devils were not without their chances in the second half. In the 57th minute, Racioppi ripped a shot and nearly missed doubling the Duke lead as the ball clanged off the right goalpost before being cleared by the Tar Heels.
Dorsey tried to collect her second goal of the contest on a counterattack at 81:10 but was well defended and forced the ball high over the crossbar.
A header by Boyles nearly leveled the score at 86:26 but the ball whizzed just wide to the right of the net to keep the Blue Devils' hopes alive.
With under a minute remaining, center back Christina Gibbons cut off the Tar Heels' final quality opportunity with a slide tackle just outside the Duke 18-yard box and cleared the ball deep to seal the historic victory for the Blue Devils.
For the match, North Carolina outshot Duke, 12-11. Racioppi and freshman Kayla McCoy each registered three attempts.
The victory also marked the first time since the 1997 season that Duke put together three consecutive road shutouts.
The 2015 Blue Devils would go on to have a historic postseason run, making the program's third appearance in the national title game as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
#GoDuke
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