Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus North Carolina on October 12, 2025 at 1 p.m.
Women's Soccer
vs North Carolina
Thursday, October 19
Blacksburg, Va.
7 p.m.
Duke University
1
at
0
Virginia Tech
Photo by: Robert Simmons
Goldthwaite’s First Career Goal Pushes Duke Past Virginia Tech, 1-0
10/19/2023 10:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BLACKSBURG, Va. – As Duke women's soccer edges towards the end of the regular season, the Blue Devils were needing someone to step up and make a big play. Freshman Phoebe Goldthwaite did that Thursday evening on the road at Virginia Tech as she scored the game-winner and made a potentially game-saving tackle late in the match to lead Duke to a 1-0 win over the Hokies at Thompson Field.
Goldthwaite, a native of Durham, N.C., collected her first collegiate goal in the first half, while Duke's defense was solid limiting Virginia Tech to only four second-half shots and earning the sixth shutout of the season. The Blue Devils improved to 6-5-3 overall and 2-3-3 in the ACC, while the Hokies fell to 6-7-3, 3-5-0.
How It Happened
• Duke came out on the attack from the beginning with three shots and two corner kicks over the first 10 minutes. Senior Grace Watkins had a great move to get around a pair of defenders on the left side and drove into the box, before firing an attempt that went just wide right of the far post.
• The Blue Devils stayed on the attack and were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 26th minute. After a throw-in by senior Katie Groff, Watkins took control of the ball and sent a perfect pass to a streaking Goldthwaite, who took one touch and finished near the left post for her first collegiate goal from 14 yards.
• With 30 seconds remaining in the half, Duke was awarded a free kick from just outside the box and sophomore Kat Rader stepped up, but her attempt slid just wide left of the post.
• At the half, Duke held an 8-0 shot advantage with three shots on goal. The Blue Devils had six corner kicks as well. Duke also held 63 percent of the possession in the first half.
• In the second stanza, the Blue Devils continued to put pressure on the Hokies, but couldn't get anything past Virginia Tech.
• Duke's defense was stellar limiting the Hokies without a shot until the 71:07 mark, which was blocked by their own player.
• The Blue Devils came back with another attempt from Watkins from 23 yards, but was saved by the Hokie keeper.
• Virginia Tech had its best look of the night as Sophie Maltese had a ball drop in front of her off a corner kick, but her attempt sailed high over the crossbar to keep Duke's lead, 1-0.
• Duke finished the match with a 13-4 advantage in shots.
Notes
• Senior Leah Freeman posted her 23rd career shutout and the fifth of the season in goal for the Blue Devils. She had two saves on the night.
• Duke was without the services of senior Nicky Chico due to sickness.
• Watkins had a season-high four shots on the night.
• The Blue Devils used their sixth different starting lineup over the last seven matches.
• Senior Emily Royson missed her sixth straight game.
• With 17:53 remaining in the first half, sophomore defender Elle Piper left the match and did not return due to an injury.
• After having zero corner kicks in the previous match against Clemson, Duke had six in the first half and finished with a season-high 13.
• Goldthwaite came off the bench to play a career-high 76 minutes.
Quotes
• "Really, really excited. All down the line, it was just a phenomenal performance for everybody. The heart of this team was so, so impressive – really proud of this team." – Duke head coach Robbie Church
• "Phoebe has really gotten better and better as the year has gone along. We have moved her in a lot of different positions. She is primarily our midfielder, but if we need somebody up front. But again what a finish, what a really nice touch. The first touch set her up, second one she finished really well. In the back, she is very versatile. We had two of our starting backs gone." – Duke head coach Robbie Church
• "Honestly, it was unbelievable. I wasn't sure it was going to go in, but when it did it was surreal. I was just so glad to have my teammates. It was a great ball from Grace and an easy finish. She placed it right in front of me." – Duke freshman Phoebe Goldthwaite
Next Match
Duke will return home to host top-ranked Florida State on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m., live on ACC Network Extra. It will mark senior day for six Blue Devils – Nicky Chico, Maggie Graham, Katie Groff, Olivia Migli, Emily Royson and Grace Watkins. All six will be honored prior to the match.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
#GoDuke
Goldthwaite, a native of Durham, N.C., collected her first collegiate goal in the first half, while Duke's defense was solid limiting Virginia Tech to only four second-half shots and earning the sixth shutout of the season. The Blue Devils improved to 6-5-3 overall and 2-3-3 in the ACC, while the Hokies fell to 6-7-3, 3-5-0.
How It Happened
• Duke came out on the attack from the beginning with three shots and two corner kicks over the first 10 minutes. Senior Grace Watkins had a great move to get around a pair of defenders on the left side and drove into the box, before firing an attempt that went just wide right of the far post.
• The Blue Devils stayed on the attack and were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 26th minute. After a throw-in by senior Katie Groff, Watkins took control of the ball and sent a perfect pass to a streaking Goldthwaite, who took one touch and finished near the left post for her first collegiate goal from 14 yards.
• With 30 seconds remaining in the half, Duke was awarded a free kick from just outside the box and sophomore Kat Rader stepped up, but her attempt slid just wide left of the post.
• At the half, Duke held an 8-0 shot advantage with three shots on goal. The Blue Devils had six corner kicks as well. Duke also held 63 percent of the possession in the first half.
• In the second stanza, the Blue Devils continued to put pressure on the Hokies, but couldn't get anything past Virginia Tech.
• Duke's defense was stellar limiting the Hokies without a shot until the 71:07 mark, which was blocked by their own player.
• The Blue Devils came back with another attempt from Watkins from 23 yards, but was saved by the Hokie keeper.
• Virginia Tech had its best look of the night as Sophie Maltese had a ball drop in front of her off a corner kick, but her attempt sailed high over the crossbar to keep Duke's lead, 1-0.
• Duke finished the match with a 13-4 advantage in shots.
Notes
• Senior Leah Freeman posted her 23rd career shutout and the fifth of the season in goal for the Blue Devils. She had two saves on the night.
• Duke was without the services of senior Nicky Chico due to sickness.
• Watkins had a season-high four shots on the night.
• The Blue Devils used their sixth different starting lineup over the last seven matches.
• Senior Emily Royson missed her sixth straight game.
• With 17:53 remaining in the first half, sophomore defender Elle Piper left the match and did not return due to an injury.
• After having zero corner kicks in the previous match against Clemson, Duke had six in the first half and finished with a season-high 13.
• Goldthwaite came off the bench to play a career-high 76 minutes.
Quotes
• "Really, really excited. All down the line, it was just a phenomenal performance for everybody. The heart of this team was so, so impressive – really proud of this team." – Duke head coach Robbie Church
• "Phoebe has really gotten better and better as the year has gone along. We have moved her in a lot of different positions. She is primarily our midfielder, but if we need somebody up front. But again what a finish, what a really nice touch. The first touch set her up, second one she finished really well. In the back, she is very versatile. We had two of our starting backs gone." – Duke head coach Robbie Church
• "Honestly, it was unbelievable. I wasn't sure it was going to go in, but when it did it was surreal. I was just so glad to have my teammates. It was a great ball from Grace and an easy finish. She placed it right in front of me." – Duke freshman Phoebe Goldthwaite
Next Match
Duke will return home to host top-ranked Florida State on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m., live on ACC Network Extra. It will mark senior day for six Blue Devils – Nicky Chico, Maggie Graham, Katie Groff, Olivia Migli, Emily Royson and Grace Watkins. All six will be honored prior to the match.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
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