Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus Alabama on September 7, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
Women's Soccer
vs Alabama
Thursday, September 7
Durham, N.C.
7 p.m.
Duke University
3-2-0, 0-0-0
2
vs
0
East Carolina
4-2-1, 0-0-0
1
2
F
East Carolina
0
0
0
Duke
2
0
2
Photo by: Duke Athletics
No. 14 Blue Devils Defeat Pirates, 2-0
9/7/2023 9:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DURHAM – The 14th-ranked Duke women's soccer team received a pair of first half goals from Kat Rader and Katie Groff and went on to register a 2-0 victory over East Carolina Thursday evening at Koskinen Stadium.
In goal for Duke, senior Leah Freeman played the full 90 minutes and finished with one save to register her second shutout of the season. With the win, the Blue Devils improved to 3-2-0 on the year, while the Pirates dropped to 4-2-1.
How It Happened
• After a pair of early shots from sophomore Kat Rader, she was able to connect on her fourth goal of the season off a rebound attempt from sophomore Carina Lageyre at the 8:39 mark. Rader was able to hit the bottom right corner from about 10 yards out.
• The Blue Devils controlled the first half with 64 percent of the possession.
• Duke added a second goal at the 39:58 mark as sophomore Devin Lynch found the head of Katie Groff, who punched in her second goal of the season.
• The Blue Devils held a 9-1 shot advantage in the first half, while the two goals for Duke in the first were a season high.
• At the 70:47 mark, senior Grace Watkins was fouled just outside the box and Rader stepped up for the free kick. Rader blasted an attempt that went off the crossbar and was cleared away.
• For the match, Duke held a 14-3 shot advantage.
Notes
• The goal by Kat Rader was the quickest goal of the season for the Blue Devils (8:39).
• Katie Groff and Devin Lynch have combined for Duke's only two goals off corner kicks this season.
• Freshman Cameron Roller made her first collegiate start on the evening and played a career-high 81 minutes.
• The assist from Carina Lageyre was her third of the season.
• Kat Rader has scored in each of the four home matches this season.
• Senior Emily Royson had her 51-match starting streak come to an end as she came off the bench.
• Sophomore Julia Saunicheva made her first collegiate start at Duke and played 51 minutes.
• Leah Freeman totaled her 20th career shutout in goal and second as a Blue Devil.
Quotes
• "I definitely think it is a step in the right direction. I thought we played hard, competed and had a good mentality. East Carolina is a good team and they are going to win a lot of games. It was a tough game for us and knew it would be." – Duke head coach Robbie Church
• "I think it was a very necessary win and a great response from our team. Before the game started, I just said I wanted to play us to play like us and have fun. I think that is what we did. So, it was fun to see that come out on the field." – Duke senior Katie Groff
• "We needed that first goal. The longer the game went, the more confidence they got. That was big, but the second goal was also very, very big. Kat [Rader] has done really well all year. Her fourth goal of the year and scored in four out of five games. We need to keep working on getting other players involved in scoring goals along with her." – Duke head coach Robbie Church
Next Match
The Blue Devils hit the road for Greensboro on Sunday, Sept. 10 as the Blue Devils face UNC Greensboro at 6 p.m., to conclude non-conference action.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
#GoDuke
In goal for Duke, senior Leah Freeman played the full 90 minutes and finished with one save to register her second shutout of the season. With the win, the Blue Devils improved to 3-2-0 on the year, while the Pirates dropped to 4-2-1.
How It Happened
• After a pair of early shots from sophomore Kat Rader, she was able to connect on her fourth goal of the season off a rebound attempt from sophomore Carina Lageyre at the 8:39 mark. Rader was able to hit the bottom right corner from about 10 yards out.
• The Blue Devils controlled the first half with 64 percent of the possession.
• Duke added a second goal at the 39:58 mark as sophomore Devin Lynch found the head of Katie Groff, who punched in her second goal of the season.
• The Blue Devils held a 9-1 shot advantage in the first half, while the two goals for Duke in the first were a season high.
• At the 70:47 mark, senior Grace Watkins was fouled just outside the box and Rader stepped up for the free kick. Rader blasted an attempt that went off the crossbar and was cleared away.
• For the match, Duke held a 14-3 shot advantage.
Notes
• The goal by Kat Rader was the quickest goal of the season for the Blue Devils (8:39).
• Katie Groff and Devin Lynch have combined for Duke's only two goals off corner kicks this season.
• Freshman Cameron Roller made her first collegiate start on the evening and played a career-high 81 minutes.
• The assist from Carina Lageyre was her third of the season.
• Kat Rader has scored in each of the four home matches this season.
• Senior Emily Royson had her 51-match starting streak come to an end as she came off the bench.
• Sophomore Julia Saunicheva made her first collegiate start at Duke and played 51 minutes.
• Leah Freeman totaled her 20th career shutout in goal and second as a Blue Devil.
Quotes
• "I definitely think it is a step in the right direction. I thought we played hard, competed and had a good mentality. East Carolina is a good team and they are going to win a lot of games. It was a tough game for us and knew it would be." – Duke head coach Robbie Church
• "I think it was a very necessary win and a great response from our team. Before the game started, I just said I wanted to play us to play like us and have fun. I think that is what we did. So, it was fun to see that come out on the field." – Duke senior Katie Groff
• "We needed that first goal. The longer the game went, the more confidence they got. That was big, but the second goal was also very, very big. Kat [Rader] has done really well all year. Her fourth goal of the year and scored in four out of five games. We need to keep working on getting other players involved in scoring goals along with her." – Duke head coach Robbie Church
Next Match
The Blue Devils hit the road for Greensboro on Sunday, Sept. 10 as the Blue Devils face UNC Greensboro at 6 p.m., to conclude non-conference action.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's soccer, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWSOC".
#GoDuke
Team Stats
ECU
DUKE
Goals
0
2
Shots
3
14
Shots on Goal
2
6
Saves
4
1
Corners
3
4
Fouls
7
9
Scoring Plays
Kat Rader (4)
Assisted By: Carina Lageyre
left footed shot from inside the box to the bottom right corner.
08:39
Katie Groff (2)
Assisted By: Devin Lynch
Header back across goal to bottom right corner following a corner kick.
39:58
Game Leaders
Players
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
1
SOG
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
fwd
Shots
0
SOG
0
Goals
0
Assists
1
Players Mentioned
GK
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerM
/ Women's SoccerF/M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
F
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