Third-Ranked Duke Wins Seventh Straight with 3-0 Victory Versus SMU

Friday, September 27

Durham, N.C.

4 p.m.

Duke University

7-1-0, 2-0-0

SMU

6-4-2, 2-1-2

SMU

Duke

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Third-Ranked Duke Wins Seventh Straight with 3-0 Victory Versus SMU

9/27/2024 7:12:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Church Interview Oliaro Interview Photo Gallery

DURHAM, N.C. – Boosted by two first half goals, the third-ranked Duke women's soccer team registered a 3-0 win at home against SMU Friday afternoon inside Koskinen Stadium, which marked the Blue Devils seven-consecutive victory. The Mia tandem of Mia Oliaro and Mia Minestrella scored the first two goals of the day, while rookie Mary Long added the third.

The win marked Blue Devil head coach Robbie Church's 300th win at Duke. The Blue Devils move to 7-1 overall and 2-0-0 in the ACC, while the Mustangs dropped their first ACC match falling to 6-4-2, 2-1-2.

How It Happened

The Blue Devils were able to get on the board quickly as graduate student Hannah Bebar had a great slide tackle to take the ball away from a SMU defender.Bebar sent the ball to junior Devin Lynch, who placed a perfect ball down the left side of the box to a streaking fifth year Ella Hase.Hase used her left foot to send a cross across the front of the goal to a wide open sophomore Mia Oliaro, who finished the ball inside the left corner at the 1:26 mark.
Duke added a second goal late in the first half as Oliaro found sophomore Mia Minestrella inside the box and finished her fourth goal of the season to give the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
At the break, Duke held a 12-1 advantage in shots with Oliaro, Katie Groff, Farrah Walters and Julia Saunicheva leading the way with two attempts each.
SMU had a number of chances in the second half, but Duke goalkeeper Leah Freeman collected four key saves to keep the Mustangs off the board.
Duke put a third on the board at the 81:25 mark as Hase drove inside the box from the left side and beat her defender.She fed rookie Mary Long, who used her left foot to fire in her second goal of the season to go ahead, 3-0.
For the match, the Blue Devils outshot SMU, 24-7.

Notes

Devin Lynch has now scored or assisted in four straight matches.
Mia Oliaro's goal just 1:26 into the contest is the quickest tally for the Blue Devils this season.
Duke has scored a goal in the first half for the seventh consecutive contest.
Ella Hase posted her fourth and fifth assists over the last four matches.
After not scoring as a rookie, Mia Minestrella now owns a tied for team-best four goals on the season.
Minestrella's goal was the latest Duke has scored in the first half this season (39:49).
Freshman Mary Long posted her second goal of the year.
Leah Freeman posted the 26th shutout of her collegiate career and the third this season as she finished with four saves over 90 minutes.
Duke has scored three or more goals in four consecutive matches.
The Blue Devil defense has allowed only one goal over the last seven matches and only two this season.

Quotes

"It was a little bit different of a game than we've had up to this point. I thought the girls showed a lot of character. It's a different time, we were in a different uniform - I thought we gutted it out.We played well.You score a goal in the first minute and a half to put you on that front foot and that was so important for us. But I thought we still continued to play well, we didn't finish, but we kept the game even for a while.A big goal at the end of the half to put us up 2-0 - I thought that was really important. I think overall we played well, the main thing is that we got the three points." -- Duke head coach Robbie Church on the win
"It is amazing.I think I'm old, that's the first thing.I've been here for a long time. Three things, I think it reflects with my family, the support from my wife, Linda, and children, Ashley and Kyle, and all their years of support -- good times and bad times. All the players that we had here.We have had some really, really good players, and they've contributed, so I hope they all feel a part of this because they are a big part.We have unbelievable coaches and staff members, from Billy [Lesesne] to Erwin [van Bennekom] to Kieran [Hall] now and Carla [Overbeck] of course being here all of these years and all the goalkeeper coaches we had, they played a really big part of it.The last I would say about it, I want to thank the administration, Chris Kennedy and all his support and athletic directors that I have been here with Joe Alleva, Kevin White and Nina King.I've been a very blessed person, to be at a school that I love and just having a great time this last year."-- Duke head coach Robbie Church on reaching 300 wins

Next Match

Duke will next host Virginia Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m., live on ACC Network Extra.

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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