No. 22 Duke Battles UNCG To Scoreless Tie In Exhibition Play

Saturday, August 25

Durham, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Duke University

1-0

UNC-Greensboro

0-1

#--/27 St. Louis

Duke

No. 22 Duke Battles UNCG To Scoreless Tie In Exhibition Play

8/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C.? On a hot, muggy Saturday evening at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, N.C., the 22nd-ranked Duke Women's Soccer team closed out exhibition action with a 0-0 tie against UNC Greensboro.

The Blue Devils outshot the Spartans, 21-12, but could not get anything in the back of the net. This came three days after scoring three goals off eight shots against UNC Wilmington on Wednesday.

“I have mixed emotions after this match,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. “I don't think we brought the intensity and the work rate in the first half. I was not happy as I thought UNCG outworked us, expended more energy in the game and wanted to win more than we did in the first part of the game. I thought we played very slow and methodical. A lot of that could be playing through preseason tiredness and soreness.”

For Duke, sophomore CJ Ludemann led the way with eight shot attempts, while one was on goal. Sophomore Elisabeth Redmond added five to go along with three from junior Kelly Hathorn, two from freshman Marybeth Kreger and one each from freshman Gretchen Miller, freshmen Rebecca Allen and sophomore KayAnne Gummersall.

During the first 45 minutes, the Blue Devils outshot the Spartans, 6-5, but never really got anything going. Redmond had one of Duke's top opportunities in the first five minutes as she was awarded a free kick from 25 yards in front of the goal, but it was saved by UNC Greensboro goalkeeper Katherine Ryan. This was much different in the second half as Duke came out and outshot UNCG by a 15-7 margin.

In the 72nd minute, one of the best scoring chances for the Blue Devils was by Hathorn, who is a native of Durham, N.C. The tri-captain had a very nice move and kicked the ball between the defenders legs that almost got through Ryan's hands.

Gummersall, who is from Wilmette, Ill., had another excellent scoring opportunity in the 87th minute when she was driving towards the UNCG goal, but defender Katie Evans of the Spartans pulled Gummersall's jersey from the back and was given a yellow card. Ludemann was given the free kick but it sailed wide from 25 yards.

“I was very proud of the team in the second half as we challenged them at halftime to change,” said Church. “Over the course of our season, we are going to have halves that are not at the same level all of the time. I thought the second half we got better. We played quicker, faster, harder and played with more emotion in the second half. The only thing that disappointments me is that I think we threw away 45 minutes before we had a chance to get better.”

Junior Cassidy Powers started in goal for the Blue Devils and played 45 minutes. She allowed faced five shots and saved two. Senior Allison Lipsher started the second stanza and posted five saves on seven shot attempts. In goal for the Spartans, Ryan played all 90 minutes and posted eight saves.

Duke will open the season in San Diego, Calif., at the adidas WCC/ACC Challenge on Aug. 31 against Pepperdine at 8:30 p.m. (EST). The Blue Devils will also face San Diego on Sept. 2 at 4:30 p.m., while out in California.

“We open the season with Pepperdine and San Diego next weekend that are very good teams,” said Church. “We will have to play a 90-minute game and that will be our challenge for them. We have to make sure we play at the level we can for 90 minutes. We can put more of a stamp on the game and carry it longer.”

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