Soccer teams strike impressive tone in ACC

The chips were down. Their backs against the wall. Any number of worn-out sports clichés could be used to describe the situation the women's soccer team found themselves in as time wound down in the second half of Saturday's game against Florida State. But, did they throw in the towel? Not a chance. After tying the score at 2-2 on an Emma Breland goal twelve minutes into the second half, the visiting Seminoles smelled an upset on Duke's home turf at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils, however, had other plans. With their perfect 5-0 record on the line, Duke put an end to any thoughts the Seminoles might have had of stealing a victory when midfielder Carly Fuller booted in the winning goal with just under ten minutes to play in the second half. Scoring her biggest goal of the season, the sophomore's shot gave the Blue Devils a 3-2 lead that they were able to cling to until the final horn sounded. "It was just a corner [kick] late in the game," said Fuller, describing the goal that put Duke up to stay. "[The ball] was popping up, there was a scramble in the middle and it popped my way. I just volleyed it in." The chaotic scramble that led to the goal was, perhaps, a fitting metaphor for a game that featured multiple lead changes and plenty of physical play. Both teams hustled and scrapped their way to the 2-2 tie before Fuller broke the Seminoles back with the decisive shot. The dramatic win helped the Blue Devils to their best start in the program's 13-year history. Duke improved to 6-0 overall, and more importantly, 2-0 in the ACC. "To come out 2-0 in the ACC is awesome," Fuller said. "It was a huge win-any ACC game is." "It's the best we've played," coach Bill Hempen added. "I'm real happy with the kids, with the way they played and the effort they gave against a team that is much-improved from last year." Hempen was also pleased with the way that his team responded to adversity. The Blue Devils responded favorably after they went down 1-0 early in the game when Seminole Amber Tollefson flipped a soft shot over the outstretched arms of charging Duke goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir into the back of the net. "I didn't see any look of panic on their faces," Hempen said. "These kids have been in the ACC wars. [Coming back from the deficit] was a good sign for our team." Helgadottir had a chance to help her team get back into the contest later in the first half when she assisted on Duke's first goal of the game. On a goal kick, she found a streaking Gwendolyn Oxenham behind the FSU defense. The freshman forward collected the pass and rocketed a shot past Seminole goalie Sarah Crawford. "You saw what a weapon a goalkeeper with a long service can be." Hempen said. "She certainly changes the game for us considerably when she is in." The Blue Devils scored once more before half time when forward Kim Daws rocketed a 40-yard shot past a back-pedalling Crawford. "I saw the keeper was out and I just hit it," said Daws. "I was lucky that it went in." Daws, a fifth-year senior, was decidedly optimistic about Duke's impressive early-season start. "Being here the previous four year, I don't think we have ever been 2-0 in the ACC," Daws said. "It was a great win as far as our confidence and overall record."