Blue Devils Drop Heartbreaker, 3-2, in Overtime at Alabama

Friday, November 25

Tuscaloosa, AL

7 p.m.

Duke University

15-5-3, 6-2-2

Alabama

23-2-1, 10-0-0

Duke

Alabama

Photo by: Jason Clark

Blue Devils Drop Heartbreaker, 3-2, in Overtime at Alabama

11/25/2022 10:58:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The second-seeded Duke women's soccer team dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker in double-overtime on the road at top-seeded Alabama on Friday evening in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals at Alabama Soccer Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

The Blue Devils fought back from being down, 2-0, in the second half to even the match and send it into overtime, but the Crimson Tide netted the eventual game-winner in the first overtime to advance to the NCAA College Cup. Duke concludes its season with a 15-4-3 ledger.

How It Happened
•   Alabama came out on the attack and took the first five shots of the match, which three were saved by Blue Devil senior goalkeeper Ruthie Jones.
•   Freshman Kat Rader attempted Duke's first shot, which Alabama goalkeeper Mckinley Crone made a diving stop to her right in the 13th minute.
•   In the final seven minutes of the first half, Rader and freshman Devin Lynch both attempted shots.
•   Alabama outshot the Blue Devils, 9-3, in the first half.
•   Olivia Migli attempted the first shot of the second half, which went just wide of the far post at the 48:47 mark.
•   In the 68th minute, Alabama broke through and took a 1-0 lead as Gianna Ala Paul punched in a ball that deflected off Jones and settled by her feet, before finishing.
•   The Crimson Tide went ahead 2-0 exactly four minutes later as Riley Tanner and Gessica Skorka found Ashlynn Serepca for the goal.
•   Michelle Cooper made her first shot of the match count at the 75:30 mark as Delaney Graham found her streaking down the right side of the box. Cooper hit the bottom far corner of the goal to give her 18 tallies on the season and cut the Alabama lead to 2-1.
•   A little over three minutes later, Cooper added her second goal off assists from Elle Piper and Rader.
•   Lynch had a great chance at the 83:18 mark as Rader found her at the top of the box, but her attempt sailed just over the crossbar.
•   At the end of regulation, Alabama held a 20-8 shot advantage.
•   Rader featured an excellent chance at goal to open the first overtime off a tremendous pass from Cooper, but Crone made a great save.
•   Jones came up big again in goal for the Blue Devils at the 96:45 mark as Ala Paul fired a shot that Jones tipped over the crossbar to keep the score tied, 2-2.
•   The Crimson Tide were able to take a 3-2 lead less than two minutes later as Reyna Ala Reyes punched in the goal after an Alabama corner kick.
•   Following the conclusion of the first overtime, Alabama held a 23-10 lead in shots.
•   Maggie Graham had a shot at the top of the box in the second overtime, but it was saved by the Crimson Tide keeper.
•   For the match, Alabama held a 26-12 advantage in shots.

Notes
•   Michelle Cooper collected her seventh multi-goal game of the season and ninth of her career. She posted her third multi-goal contest of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
•   Cooper finished the season with a school-record 19 goals and 49 points.
•   For the match, Ruthie Jones finished with nine saves over 110 minutes of action.
•   Kat Rader concluded her stellar freshman season with 29 points, which tied for second on the Duke freshman list. Her 12 goals tied for first on the freshman goals list as well.
•   With her four points on the night, Cooper owns 78 through two seasons, which ranks 10th on Duke's all-time points list.
•   Delaney Graham collected her fifth career assist in the NCAA Tournament and 19th overall assist of her career.
•   The Blue Devils fell in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals for the third straight year.

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