Last spring, Duke beat cross-town rival North Carolina in Chapel Hill thanks to an overtime goal by attacker Kerrin Maurer. This year, the Blue Devils are ready to pull out their second-straight victory against the Tar Heels, with everything on the line.
No. 3 Duke and No. 2 North Carolina will play the latest installment in the rivalry under the lights at Koskinen Stadium Friday at 7 p.m. The winner will secure the ACC regular season title and the first seed in this year’s ACC tournament in Charlottesville, Va., which begins April 23.
“UNC is a fast and athletic team so controlling the tempo and playing our game is going to be huge,” Maurer said. “To win we need to avoid unforced errors and make sure that we convert on our possessions.”
Duke (13-1, 5-1 in the ACC) started the year with a nine-game winning streak, matching its best start to a season since 2006. After losing to Virginia 13-10 March 21, the Blue Devils have gotten right back on track, reeling on four straight victories.
The Duke offense averages 13.6 goals and 12.5 draw controls per game and will look to go 8-0 at home Friday. Veterans pace the Blue Devils’ arsenal as four seniors have scored more than 20 goals this season —attackers Maurer and Brigid Smith and midfielders Katie Trees and Taylor Trimble. Maurer is also the team’s top faciiltator with 24 assists.
Freshman attacker Kyra Harney has played a crucial role in Duke’s offense success as well, tallying 25 goals and 11 helpers in 14 games.
Despite the ACC regular season crown at stake and the age-old rivalry against the Tar Heels, the Blue Devils are trying to approah Friday’s game like any other contest.
“We’ll do what has been working for us all this year,” Maurer said. “We have to recognize their game and what they can potentially throw at us to know what we can do in that type of situations.”
At the same time, a win Friday would be one of the most memorable in Maurer's career.
“As a senior, you remember every single game against UNC,” she said. “There’s something special about the rivalry that you’ll never forget. We’re hoping to come up with the win to make our senior year a great one.”
A solid performance by Duke’s defense will also be critical if the Blue Devils want to crush the Tar Heels. Only two out of th team's 14 opponents this season, thanks to junior goalkeeper Kelsey Duryea's 6.9 saves per game. If Duryea delivers three more saves against the Tar Heels, she will reach 100 for the season.
North Carolina (12-2, 5-1 in the ACC) enters Friday’s clash averaging 13.8 goals per contest but will be without the services of its top-scorer, Molly Hendrick. The sophomore attacker tore her ACL April 4 during the Tar Heels’ 18-5 victory against then-No. 10 Louisville. Junior Sammy Jo Tracy and senior Brittney Coppa lead North Carolina’s offense with 26 and 22 scores, respectively, and will look to rise to the occasion against Duke in Hendrick's absence. Defensively, the Tar Heels allow just 8.1 goals per contest.
Friday’s game will be even special for Duke's eight seniors, as it will be the last time they will play in a Duke-North Carolina classic at home.
“The game against UNC is one of the last opportunities of my lifetime that I’ll be able to be in an institution with all of my friends and teammates,” senior defender Gabby Moise said. "They have become a family to me. So I want to cherish the time I have left and try to do my best for them.”
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