Duke Advances to NCAA College Cup; Blue Devils Book Trip to Cary with 1-0 Win Versus Virginia Tech

Saturday, November 30

Durham, N.C.

6 p.m.

Duke University

18-2-1, 9-0-1

Virginia Tech

14-6-3, 6-2-2

Virginia Tech

Duke

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke Advances to NCAA College Cup; Blue Devils Book Trip to Cary with 1-0 Win Versus Virginia Tech

11/30/2024 8:36:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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DURHAM, N.C. – The Cinderella season continues for women's soccer head coach Robbie Church and the top-seeded Blue Devils as Duke defeated 12th-ranked Virginia Tech, 1-0, on Saturday evening inside Koskinen Stadium to book a return trip to the NCAA College Cup.

Duke will make its fifth appearance in the NCAA College Cup (1992, 2011, 2015 and 2017) and the third under the direction of Church. The Blue Devils (18-2-1) next face second-seeded North Carolina for the fourth time on the season on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m., at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

Fifth year senior Katie Groff collected the game-winner for the Blue Devils in the first half on Saturday evening and Duke registered its fourth-consecutive NCAA shutout to move on to the NCAA College Cup.

How It Happened

The Blue Devils had a number shot attempts to open the first half, but none too dangerous.
At the 32:12 mark, Duke was able to get on the board.Graduate student Hannah Bebar served in a corner kick from the left side of the pitch to sophomore defender Cameron Roller, who headed the ball toward the goal.After the attempt was blocked, fifth year Katie Groff had the ball come to her, turned around and blasted it into the back of the net to give Duke a 1-0 lead.
Duke's defense was stellar in the first 45 minutes holding the Hokies without a shot.The Blue Devils held an 8-0 advantage in shots with six different Blue Devils attempting one.Roller and freshman Mary Long both had a team-high two shots.
Virginia Tech attempted its first shot of the match at the 50:20 mark of the second half, which went wide left by Sarah Rosenbaum.
The Blue Devils had numerous chances with the ball in the Hokies' box, but couldn't get it past the Virginia Tech defense or get a foot on it for a shot.
Duke's defense was too strong in limiting Virginia Tech to four shots, which tied a season low.The Blue Devils attempted 13.
Over the four NCAA Tournament matches, Duke has held its opponents to only 14 shots.

Notes

With Duke's goal in the first half, the Blue Devils set a new single season record for goals in a season (68).
Duke scored a goal in the first half for the 19th time out of 21 matches this season, including nine straight.
Katie Groff totaled her ninth career goal and third of the season. It was also her second career tally in the NCAA Tournament as she scored against Texas in 2023.
Groff helped Duke register its 52nd shutout over her last five years on the pitch.
Duke now owns a 12-win turnaround from a year ago, which ties for a NCAA best in 2024
The Blue Devils have now scored 14 goals in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, which is the third-most in Duke history.
It marked the sixth goal of the season off a corner kick for the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils moved to 32-3-1 in NCAA Tournament matches in Durham.
Duke head coach Robbie Church coached in his final contest at Koskinen Stadium, finishing 180-46-32 over his 24 seasons.He improved to 28-1-1 in NCAA matches played in Durham.Church now owns 398 all-time wins as a women's head coach.
The Blue Devils finished the season with 50 goals at home, a new program record.
Duke's 18 wins on the season is the third-most at Duke under Church – 23 in 2017 and 22 in 2011.
Leah Freeman totaled her 30th career shutout on the night playing 90 minutes and notching three saves.
The Blue Devils finished the season 12-0-1 at home in 2024, completing the fourth undefeated season at home in Duke history.
Maggie Graham played in her 100th career game on the night, becoming the third Blue Devil to play in 100 or more matches (Delaney Graham and Mackenzie Pluck).

Quotes

Will follow at end of release…

Next Match

Duke will face second-seeded North Carolina Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m., in the NCAA College Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

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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DUKE POSTGAME QUOTES

DUKE HEAD COACH ROBBIE CHURCH

Opening Statement
"First of all, let's congratulate Virginia Tech for a fantastic season. Chugger [Adair], every year, year in and year out, has a great team, and has worked so hard, and we knew what we were going to face today from playing them in the past. They're physical, they compete, they play hard, and they did that again tonight. What wins they had during the year. It was an honor to play them, and it was an honor to win and to go on to the Final Four. I'm just so excited with this group, this team, to be able to go to the College Cup. This is a team that was below 500 last year, and that wasn't going to happen this year. They were determined and it started last January, maybe it started December the month before. They were determined to turn this around and to finish up. We were going to have a great year and every single training session, every single video session, this team is tuned in and I don't use the word deserve because you don't deserve anything, you've got to earn anything that you get, but from the effort and the work that they have done all season, it is a really proper thing that this team is going to go play in the College Cup. We're one of four teams that are still standing, so I cannot be more proud of a group of young ladies than I am of this group tonight. I thought that we played really well the first half. I thought that we kept the ball well, that we played field chase. We were dangerous but we just couldn't quite find that last ball, and we couldn't quite get that second goal after getting the first one. Second half got a little bit more chaotic and we knew that it would. The team pressed a little bit more, pushed a little bit in numbers forward, but I thought we still had complete control of it. I felt like we were still creating really good chances and we were really solid defensively so it was a great effort. This is the fourth straight game we have not conceded a goal in, and in this tournament you can go a long way if you don't concede goals. We will find goals, but I am very proud of us not conceding a goal tonight."

On walking off Koskinen with a win under his belt for the last time:
"Its great. It's really special. I guess it's just now kind of hitting me a little bit. 24 years, 24 seasons, and just all the people that put the Duke uniform on. I just thank them, for everything that they've done. I hope our full alumni base feels this victory. This is for them too and all of the staff that we've had, all of the assistant coaches that we've had over the years, everyone that's been involved in the program, I owe them a lot. I don't have the words to express how much I owe them. I've been very blessed to be here at Duke this long, very blessed to coach young ladies like I have right here on my right and left, and the ones before them. Kieran [Hall] and Carla [Overbeck] will do an unbelievable job as they take over, they will do a great job and this program will continue to grow and go to great heights but it's been so fun for myself and my family to be able to be here at Duke and to have all of these great memories here that we have. To see Koskinen Stadium, we'll be back and will look at it from in the stands, and it will always be a special place."

DUKE FIFTH YEAR KATIE GROFF

On starting/playing multiple positions:
"I kind of always have just gone wherever they have put me. I came in recruited as a center back and then just over the years they've put me at holding-mid for a bit and, now with his new formation change, being in that outside center-back outside-back position has been just kind of where the team has needed me so I kind of find myself wherever they put me."

On scoring the game-winner:
"That was all credit to Hannah's [Bebar] ball and Cam [Roller] getting the first head on it. I was just in the right spot at the right time and was able to turn my body around to get it on frame, and luckily it's kind of hard to miss from two yards out so I'm glad I was able to put that one away."

On being back for a fifth year and now going to the College Cup:
"This has been so special. I remember leading up to this game, realizing that this was my fourth time in the Elite Eight, we just kept saying 90 minutes from a College Cup and it's only one game away but that's a long 90 minutes as we've learned tonight and in other years, but it feels good to be on the other side of it. Like Robbie said, last year we were below 500 and so to come back for a fifth year, I was saying I wanted to end on a better note and we've already done that, but obviously the jobs not finished yet."

DUKE GRADUATE STUDENT HANNAH BEBAR

On transferring to Duke and now making the College Cup:
"I think this team has just welcomed me and from day one I felt so wanted and so accepted on this team and so to be here for one year, it's hard. Sometimes you don't know how it's going to go, but every single game and every minute with this team has been amazing and so to be at this point, to be here is just a great feeling."