Less than a week after falling in overtime at home to Old Dominion, Duke bounced back with an overtime victory of its own. Making it sweeter, the Blue Devils 2-1 win Saturday at Williams Field came over fifth-ranked North Carolina.
With five minutes remaining in regulation, the Tar Heels (6-3, 0-2 in the ACC) netted their first goal of the day to tie the game, 1-1. The No. 4 Blue Devils (7-3, 1-1) were unable to score in the remaining time and faced yet another game-their third of the season-heading into extra time.
But in the 12th minute of the first sudden-death overtime, senior midfielder Amy Stopford found an opportunity when a penalty was called against North Carolina on a breakaway. Both sides, equally exhausted, anxiously watched as Stopford lined up the ensuing penalty stroke.
Stopford hammered home the shot, giving Duke its first ACC victory of the season and its first win over a top-five opponent.
"Every time I play them-we play them-we want to beat North Carolina," Stopford said. "I just wanted to do my part."
During the first half, the teams wore each other down. Duke only allowed North Carolina one shot while attempting eight of its own, but the half still ended in a scoreless tie.
Just two minutes into the second half, freshman Amie Survilla put the Blue Devils on the board with her fourth goal of the season. The Tar Heels could not respond until the game's 65th minute, when Karen Mann's unassisted goal knotted the match at one apiece.
"It was a really exhausting game," head coach Beth Bozman said. "We played hard and then we let up a little bit, and Carolina took advantage of that."
In response to the goal, Bozman called a timeout. The focus became winning the game rather than taking it to North Carolina, she said.
Coming into the game Saturday, Duke was 1-1 on the season in overtime games. The Blue Devils beat Iowa 3-2 Sept. 3 before falling last weekend to Old Dominion.
"It was really hard to prepare ourselves for this game coming off of Old Dominion, so I am really proud of how we played today," junior goalkeeper Caitlin Williams said. "There are a lot of emotions in overtime, a few nerves, but I am always confident in the people on the field, and I know they are confident in me."
Williams, who recorded four saves on the day, halted multiple Tar Heel breakaways to help Duke nab the first point in the annual Carlyle Cup competition between the rival schools.
"Beating any team doesn't get old," Bozman said. "I have a lot of respect for Carolina-they're a great team. When you beat them it's not just beating North Carolina, it's beating a really great team and that's what we did today."
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