With 17 freshmen and sophomores on the team and nine starting in the first game of the Nike Carolina Classic, no one knew what to expect from the young Blue Devils against Missouri Friday.
The weekend started off well with a 3-1 victory over the Tigers, but Sunday, No. 25 Duke was unable to top No. 2 Stanford in a tough 2-1 loss.
Friday’s game was highlighted by three second half goals which helped Duke to overcome a subpar first half.
“The first half was really sluggish,” head coach Robbie Church said. “But I was very proud of our team to change it in the second half and totally dominate the game and execute things offensively and score those three goals.”
The young core of the Blue Devils provided key contributions for each goal against the Tigers (0-3-1). In the 51st minute, freshman Laura Weinberg assisted on a goal by senior Molly Lester. Then, in the 56th minute, a close shot by freshman Natasha Anasi enabled senior Marybeth Kreger to score on the rebound. And, in the 88th minute, redshirt freshman Callie Simpkins scored her first career goal to seal the victory.
The Stanford game Sunday provided a bittersweet ending to the weekend as the Blue Devils (2-1) fought hard but came up just short against the Cardinal (2-0-2).
The first half featured a strategic defensive battle with neither side generating substantial offensive chances. Church was pleased with the effort from his team in the opening period.
“I think it was a very tactical [half], both teams played well defensively, [offense] was hard,” Church said. “It was a good half, a smart half, a competitive half.”
But while the first half was offensively stagnant, the second opened with a burst of chances and goals. Duke struck first, with a goal in the 50th minute by Weinberg off a shot from Kreger, who was set up by a beautiful feed from Lester.
The turning point of the match occurred just two minutes later. In the 52nd minute, Stanford’s Teresa Noyola answered back immediately with a great run and finish off a feed from teammate Lindsay Taylor to tie the score at 1-1.
“[The goal] broke our back,” Church said. “When you score in the second half and you go up a goal, you’ve got to win the game, you’ve got to close the door.”
Cardinal All-American Christen Press produced the decisive blow in the 75th minute with a fantastic run down the middle of the field off a pass from Noyola. Press’s goal put Stanford up 2-1, a lead the Cardinal would not relinquish.
In the 78th minute, Duke had a golden opportunity to tie the game, when freshman Avery Rape had a chance off a rebound. Stanford goalkeeper Kira Maker found herself out of position, and Rape captialized, shooting the ball toward the open net, only to have it blocked by a Stanford defender.
Reflecting on the opening three games of the season, Church spoke highly of his team, especially the freshmen, but stressed the need for them to learn from the Stanford game.
“We are a young team and this is a tough stretch. I think the freshmen have done well,” Church said. “We will learn when we get in this situation again, we will do a better job of handling it.... We are a damn good team. And we have to understand that... every time we step on the field.”
In their next game, the Blue Devils host Francis Marion Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Koskinen Stadium.
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