Minestrella, Duke Move into NCAA Round of 16 with 1-0 Win Against UCF

Thursday, November 20

Durham, N.C.

6:30 p.m.

Duke University

15-4-1, 7-3-0

UCF

12-4-5, 5-1-5

UCF

Duke

Julia Saunicheva, Mia Minestrella, Kat Rader

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Minestrella, Duke Move into NCAA Round of 16 with 1-0 Win Against UCF

11/20/2025 10:12:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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DURHAM, N.C. – For the second match in a row to open the NCAA Tournament, Duke junior forward Mia Minestrella netted the game-winner as the second-seeded Blue Devils defeated seventh-seeded UCF, 1-0, Thursday on Freeman Field at Koskinen Stadium in Durham to advance to the round of 16.

Minestrella, a product of Redondo Beach, California, has scored all four goals for Duke in two matches to bring her season total to 16. She has collected eight goals in seven career NCAA Tournament contests. Redshirt junior Kat Rader and senior Julia Saunicheva assisted on the game-winner in the 35th minute. The Blue Devil defense was solid all night collecting their 10th shutout of the year and limiting the Knights to only six shots.

Duke moved to 15-4-1 overall, while UCF drops to 12-4-5.

How It Happened

The Blue Devils nearly got on the board in the 10th minute as junior Mia Oliaro sent a perfect cross into the box, but senior Devin Lynch's header went just wide of the far post. Lynch had another chance two minutes later that was saved.
At the 21:15 mark, junior Mia Minestrella had a nice turn and left-footed attempt from seven yards that went off the left post and was cleared.
Oliaro had a great chance inside the box in the 25th minute, but UCF keeper Genesis Perez Watson made the stop.
Duke redshirt junior Kat Rader got in front of the Knights' defense off a great pass from senior Julia Saunicheva, but Perez Watson was there for the save.
After 12 shots, the Blue Devils were able to get on the board, 1-0, at the 34:16 mark as Saunicheva and Rader found a wide open Minestrella in front of the goal for her team-best 16th goal of the season.
At the end of the first half, Duke held a 14-2 shot advantage with Rader attempting five.
UCF had its best chance of the match in the 50th minute, but Blue Devil sophomore goalkeeper Caroline Dysart made a diving stop to her right off a free kick by Liz Worden.
The Blue Devils continued to pressure the Knights' goal in the second half, but Perez Watson kept the score knotted at 1-0 with 15 saves.
For the night, Duke held a 26-6 shot advantage with Rader totaling a team-high seven.

Notes

Duke has scored a goal in the first half in seven matches in a row and 14 times this season.
Kat Rader has scored or assisted in 15 of her 19 matches played this year. She owns 10 goals and 11 assists on the season.
Rader has moved into tied for ninth on Duke's all-time points list with 79.
Mia Minestrella now ranks tied for third on Duke's single season list for goals (16) and seventh for points (36).
Minestrella's 18 points in the NCAA Tournament ranks tied for second, while her eight goals are tied for second on Duke's record charts.
Julia Saunicheva continues to provide big minutes off the bench for Duke adding her seventh assist of the season.
Duke has scored 50 goals on the season with Minestrella's tally Thursday.
The Blue Devils reached 15 wins for the 13th time in program history.
Duke won its 23rd out of the last 26 home contests.
Duke's 11 wins at home now ranks tied for fifth-most in program history.
The Blue Devils moved to 16-6-2 all-time in the NCAA second round and has won 12 out of the last 13, including 9-0 at home.
Duke is now 34-3-1 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches in Durham.

Next Match

Duke will face third-seeded Kansas in the round of 16 Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m., in Durham.

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Duke Quotes

Duke Head Coach Kieran Hall

Opening Statement:
"I think UCF is a really, really good team. I think we anticipated it being a really difficult game and that was pretty evident. They've got lots of talented individuals, really well-coached, really like their identity and their style of play and made it difficult at times, no doubt. But ultimately, really happy with how we played. The result is really important this time of year. We all know that, but the performance was really strong. I feel like we created tons of chances, and maybe the only critique of our performance is the fact that we didn't score more goals. But ultimately, I felt we defended well, we were aggressive in our counter pressing, created tons of chances from turnovers, and for most part, our possession was pretty good. So really pleased with this stage of the season to be putting in good performances like that. And, like I said, the only critique was that fact that it was only one goal, but really happy with the team."

On Caroline Dysart's performance in goal:
"Incredibly proud because it was one of those games where she didn't have much to do for long periods, so the fact that she was engaged in the game and was able to deal with that free kick, and Liz Worden can hit a ball with both feet, and we talked a lot about that, so just shows that Caroline was prepared and came up big and did what she needed to do to help us win the game."

On the matchup with Kansas:
"Really transitional game. I think that's what they're looking to do, really stretch the game and really catch us in transition and make it a track meet, per se, I think they've got some good individual players that can cause any team problems. And obviously, Kansas has had a really strong season. So, we know what we're about to face come Sunday, and the fact that they beat Louisville, who's had a fantastic season, and we don't take that lightly. We're going to approach this game like we do any game, especially this time of year. We'll make sure that we don't leave any stones unturned."

Mia Minestrella

On her goal with the assist by Kat Rader:
"I think Kat and I are just really in sync right now, so just playing off each other like we have been all season. It's kind of just natural for us. So, she's just making my life super easy and allowing me to get in good spaces and vice versa for me to try to find her in good spaces too. So, I think just continuing to find each other and keep working off each other and bringing Avery [Oder] in, and all the other midfielders too. So, I think we're just really in sync right now."

On how to convert on corners:
"I think we just need to have a killer instinct in the box. I think tonight we just didn't want to throw ourselves in, you can look at my Clemson goal, just literally just walking it in. We need to just be more consistent with that and just have a killer mindset in the box. I think the services we were getting were amazing, and I think it's all credit to the people putting that in, and now we just need to do our job and put it in the back of the net. So that's another thing we'll probably look at this week and just be able to grow from it and learn."