Graham Pushes No. 14 Duke Past UNCG, 1-0

Monday, September 11

Greensboro, N.C.

6:30 p.m.

Duke University

4-2-0, 0-0-0

UNC Greensboro

3-4-1, 0-0-0

Duke

UNC Greensboro

Photo by: Tim Cowie

Graham Pushes No. 14 Duke Past UNCG, 1-0

9/11/2023 11:03:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

GREENSBORO – For the second straight season, Duke senior Maggie Graham was the difference maker against UNC Greensboro as the midfielder registered the game-winner in the 78th minute to push the Blue Devils past the Spartans, 1-0, at UNCG Soccer Stadium in Greensboro, N.C.

After the original match was suspended due to inclement weather on Sunday, both teams resumed action on Monday evening. Graham, who is from Atlanta, Ga., received assists from Kati Druzina and Kat Rader on the eventual game-winner as the Blue Devils concluded non-conference action on Monday.

Duke improved to 4-2-0, while UNC Greensboro dropped to 3-4-1 on the season.

How It Happened
•   After a 30-minute weather delay, the match officially started on Sunday.
•   The Blue Devils opened the match on the attack, taking the first three shots off the legs of Grace Watkins, Elle Piper and Maggie Graham.
•   After a great feed from senior Katie Groff to Watkins on the right flank, Watkins drove into the box and sent a perfect cross in front of the goal, but the Blue Devils couldn't get a foot on it in the 17th minute.
•   Sophomore Carina Lageyre had a great look from outside the box in the 26th minute, but her attempt was blocked and went out of bounds for a Blue Devil corner kick.
•   Duke took the first six shots of the match, before the Spartans attempted their first in the 35th minute that went high.
•   At the 39:04 mark of the first half (7:10 p.m.), the match went into a weather delay with the match tied, 1-1.
•   Duke continued to dominate possession and shots in the match, but couldn't get anything past the Spartan defense until Graham worked her magic.
•   After play resumed, the Blue Devils had a couple of shots before the match went into a condensed halftime.
•   In the second half, Duke continued to pressure the Spartans and just couldn't put anything in the net.
•   At the 77:09 mark, Kati Druzina served a ball into the box where sophomore Kat Rader headed it in front of the goal where Graham was there to push it past the UNCG goalkeeper for the winner.
•   For the match, Duke held a 17-1 shot advantage.

Notes
•   Sophomore Caroline Duffy made her first collegiate start in goal for the Blue Devils and collected her first shutout of her career over 90 minutes.
•   Freshman Cameron Roller started for the second straight match at center back.
•   Maggie Graham registered a brace a year ago against UNC Greensboro as the Blue Devils won 3-1 at home. She has three goals in her last two matches versus the Spartans.
•   The 17 shots were a season high for Duke.
•   The Blue Devils outshot the Spartans, 9-0, in the second half.

Next Match
Duke will next travel to Newton, Mass., to open ACC action on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 1 p.m., against Boston College.

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

#GoDuke