DURHAM, NC - The 22nd-ranked Duke Blue Devils advanced to the second round of the NCAA Women’s College Cup for the first time since 1996, defeating Elon College 3-1 in a first-round match held at Duke’s Koskinen Stadium on Wednesday night. With the win, Duke improves to 13-9-0 on the season, while Elon, making their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, ends its season with a 10-8-2 mark.
Although Duke dominated the first half, it was the Fightin’ Christians who got on the board first, scoring a goal at the 20:56 mark of the first period. Senior Patricia Clark took Elon’s first shot of the game, knocking it into the left side of the box just out of reach for Duke goalkeeper Isis Dallis. Elon sophomore Marissa Venuti was credited with an assist on the goal.
The Blue Devils responded quickly, as junior Kasey Truman scored her first of two goals on the evening just four minutes after Elon’s goal. After Elon goalkeeper Sommer Cork fumbled a save off a Kim Daws shot, Truman pushed the ball into an open box for the Duke score.
With the teams deadlocked at one goal apiece at the half, Duke scored its next two goals early in the second period. Blue Devils junior Susan Kraeger sent a corner kick to Sarah Pickens, then took the feed from Pickens to score on a 15-yard shot across the box at 52:02. Truman sealed the victory six minutes later, connecting with the net following a scramble in front of the box. Kraeger assisted with the goal.
Duke outshot the Fightin’ Christians 19-2, and took 11 corner kicks to Elon’s none. Elon’s Cork finished with nine saves, while Dallis recorded one stop in the goal. It marked the first time this season that Truman, Duke’s second leading scorer, recorded multiple goals in a match.
Duke, who won its first NCAA Tournament game since the 1996 season, now advances to play William & Mary on Sunday, Nov. 14. The match takes place at 1:00 p.m. on the campus of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va. The Tribe, champions of the Colonial Athletic Association with an 8-0-0 mark, earned a first-round bye in the tournament and have a 18-3-0 overall record.
(Release Courtsey of Duke Sports Information)
