Graham’s Late Goal Pushes No. 3 Duke Past Syracuse, 1-0, in ACC Opener

Friday, September 16

Syracuse, N.Y.

7 P.M.

Duke University

6-2-0, 1-1-0

Syracuse

7-2-0, 0-1-0

Duke

Syracuse

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Graham’s Late Goal Pushes No. 3 Duke Past Syracuse, 1-0, in ACC Opener

9/16/2022 10:16:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Junior Maggie Graham headed in the game-winner in the 89th minute to send the third-ranked Duke women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory on the road in the ACC opener over Syracuse at SU Soccer Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y.

A native of Atlanta, Ga., Graham scored for the third straight contest against Syracuse and now owns four of her six goals against the Orange. It marked her sixth career goal and second game-winner. The Blue Devils improved to 6-2-0 overall and 1-0-0 in the ACC, while the Orange dropped to 7-2-0, 0-1-0.


How It Happened
•   The first half featured only eight shots combined with the Orange holding a 5-3 advantage.
•   Duke's Mackenzie Pluck attempted the first shot of the match that was saved and then Syracuse went on to take the next five attempts.
•   At the 31:01 mark the Blue Devils featured their best scoring chance of the first half. Duke's Delaney Graham made a great run down the right side of the pitch, while fighting off an Orange defender. She crossed a ball across the box where Michelle Cooper acted like she was going to kick it, but let it go to Grace Watkins. Watkins attempted a shot, but a Syracuse defender was able to block it.
•   In the second half, Duke controlled possession and outshot Syracuse, 11-1
•   Michelle Cooper was able to get more involved in the second half and featured six shots, including one off the crossbar with 18 minutes remaining, off a pass from Katie Groff.
•   At the 88:16 mark, Duke had one of its seven second half corner kicks. Pluck sent it into the box to senior Sophie Jones then passed the ball back to Pluck, who used her right foot to send the ball back into the box where Graham headed in the game-winner just past the outstretched right arm of Syracuse goalkeeper Shea Vanderbosch.

Notes
•   For the match, the Blue Devils outshot the Orange 14-6 and held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks.
•   Duke's Ruthie Jones finished the night with three saves and collected her 21st career shutout.
•   In three career games against Syracuse, Maggie Graham owns four career goals.
•   The Blue Devils improved to 4-0 on the season in road contests.
•   In games following a loss, the Blue Devils have collected an 8-0-1 ledger over the last nine contests.
•   Over the last 19 road matches, Duke owns a 14-4-1 record and has won six straight true road contests.
•   Mackenzie Pluck moved into a tie for eighth on Duke's all-time charts with her 92nd career match played.
•   Duke features a 10-match unbeaten streak in ACC openers over the last 10 matches (7-0-3).

Quotes
"You go on the road playing the opening [match] of the ACC. You are playing a team that has a six-game winning streak and everybody believes this time. Give credit to Syracuse as they played terrific. Again, we didn't play our best soccer for the full 90 minutes, but we got a win on the road. We improved from the first half to the second half. I am really proud of them." – Duke head coach Robbie Church

"We earned the win. In the second half, we had great combination play and we were playing some really good soccer in their half of the field. It wasn't like it was a lucky goal. We were down there a bunch and we were fortunate to be able to finish it there." – Duke head coach Robbie Church

Next Match
Duke will next host Boston College on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m., live on ACC Network Extra from Koskinen Stadium.

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

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