Blue Devils Fail to Advance in Penalty Kicks in ACC Championship Semifinals

Thursday, November 3

Cary, N.C.

5:30 p.m.

Duke University

North Carolina

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Blue Devils Fail to Advance in Penalty Kicks in ACC Championship Semifinals

11/3/2022 10:32:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)PHOTO GALLERY

CARY, N.C. – The eighth-ranked Duke women's soccer team fought off adversity and turned in an outstanding performance Thursday evening in the semifinals of the ACC Championship, but failed to advance in penalty kicks, 7-6, against top-seeded North Carolina at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.

After playing 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, the match went to penalty kicks and the Blue Devils came up just short of advancing. Duke (12-4-3) missed its first penalty kick in the shootout, but responded by connecting on six straight. Blue Devil senior Ruthie Jones made a huge stop on UNC's fifth attempt to extend the match, before the Tar Heels eventually prevailed.

How It Happened
•   The first half was a defensive battle that featured only seven shots, including three on goal.
•   The Blue Devils featured a good look early in the match as Olivia Migli fired a cross into the box to Michelle Cooper, but Tar Heel keeper was able to punch the ball away.
•   Duke didn't have its first shot until the 36:28 mark off the leg of Nicky Chico, which was blocked.
•   Cooper, Duke's leading scorer, was limited to one shot in the first half, which was saved at the 42:03 mark.
•   The match would change at the 44:44 mark of the first half as Duke junior Maggie Graham was accessed a red card and the Blue Devils would play a player down.
•   At the end of the first half, North Carolina held a 5-2 shot advantage.
•   Duke came out in the second half and featured five defensive players on the backline.
•   Cooper was able to gather the ball outside the box in the 65th minute and fired a shot that was blocked.
•   In the 71st minute, UNC had a couple of chances in front of the Duke goal but Blue Devil goalkeeper Ruthie Jones registered a big save and Migli cleared the ball off the line.
•   The match returned all even on the pitch at the 72:36 mark as North Carolina's Talia Dellaperuta was issued her second yellow card and a red card, after taking down Duke freshman Elle Piper.
•   At the end of regulation, the Tar Heels held an 18-3 advantage in shots.
•   Jones tied a season high with eight saves in goal for Duke during regulation.
•   Late in the second overtime, North Carolina's Avery Patterson launched a long shot attempt that went off the far post and was cleared away.
•   Duke had a free kick just outside the box with 30 seconds remaining, but Sophie Jones shot was cleared by the Tar Heel keeper.
•   Piper added a shot that went high as time was expiring.
•   North Carolina held a 22-7 advantage in shots for the match.

Penalty Kicks
•   Katie Groff (Duke) – Saved
•   Tori Hansen (UNC) – Good
•   Emmy Duerr (Duke) – Good
•   Rachel Jones (UNC) – Good
•   Kat Rader (Duke) – Good
•   Ally Sentnor (UNC) – Good
•   Devin Lynch (Duke) – Good
•   Avery Patterson (UNC) – Good
•   Michelle Cooper (Duke) – Good
•   Bella Sember (UNC) – Saved
•   Elle Piper (Duke) – Good
•   Tessa Dellarose (UNC) – Good
•   Sophie Jones (Duke) – Good
•   Ruby Grant (UNC) – Good
•   Mackenzie Pluck (Duke) – Saved
•   Emily Moxley (UNC) - Good

Notes
•   The Blue Devils' two shots in the first half equaled the two attempts Duke had in the entire 90 minutes in the first meeting with UNC.
•   UNC held a 10-1 shot advantage in the second half when it held a player advantage.
•   It marked the first time this season the Tar Heels were held without a goal in regulation.
•   Duke played its seventh overtime match in ACC Championship action.
•   In penalty kicks in ACC Championship play, Duke entered the match with a 2-1 ledger.
•   Ruthie Jones finished with a career-high 10 saves and totaled her 24th career shutout. It was the ninth overall clean sheet this season for the Duke defense.
•   The red card was the first for the Blue Devils in head coach Robbie Church's 22 years in Durham.

Quotes
"I am really, really proud of our staff. I thought our staff did a phenomenal job being able to adjust. This team is probably the most adaptable team that we have ever had. Whatever gets thrown at them, whatever formation we need them to go in – to be able to change on the fly. What a great job and what a heart we showed."    – Duke head coach Robbie Church

"It hurts to not advance to play on Sunday, because our goal was to win an ACC Championship and we are not going to be able to fulfill that. But now our goals change and our goal now is to win an NCAA Championship." – Duke head coach Robbie Church

"It was obviously a tough game. We knew going in we were going to have to work really, really hard to get a result. So, me and everyone on the field and sideline took it in stride. We defended really well tonight. I am super proud of the players in front of me and how they defended tonight. It was hard from the very first whistle, it got harder as it went on – obviously going down a player was tough, but we took it in stride and did the best we could with it. I am really happy with how we played." – Duke senior goalkeeper Ruthie Jones

"Everything is a little bit more intense when there is a trophy on the line. We are absolutely devastated that we won't advance, because we really wanted to win a trophy this week. At the same time, Carolina and Duke is always going to be a high-energy game. It is fun, but a little more tough today because of what was on the line." – Duke senior goalkeeper Ruthie Jones

Next Match
Duke will next await the NCAA Tournament selection show, which will take place Monday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m., live on NCAA.com. The NCAA Tournament will open the weekend of Nov. 11-13.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".

#GoDuke