Pathman, Duke Down MTSU, 1-0, to Conclude Nike Classic

Sunday, September 19

Durham, N.C.

2:30 p.m.

Duke University

6-1-2

Middle Tennessee State

3-6-0

Middle Tennessee

#15 Duke

Pathman, Duke Down MTSU, 1-0, to Conclude Nike Classic

9/19/2010 6:52:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - For the second straight contest, a Duke freshman registered a key goal for the 15th-ranked Blue Devils as Mollie Pathman netted her team-best second game-winning goal in the second half to lift Duke over Middle Tennessee State, 1-0, on Sunday at Koskinen Stadium.

The match concluded the Duke Nike Classic as top-ranked North Carolina also defeated fifth-ranked Florida, 2-0, on Sunday to claim the classic title.

With her game-winning goal, Pathman was named to the Duke Nike Classic All-Tournament team along with teammates Nicole Lipp, Kaitlyn Kerr and Libby Jandl. Other members of the All-Tournament team were Meghan Klingenberg (North Carolina), Jazmyne Avant (Florida), Vanessa Mueggler (MTSU), Emily Snowdon (MTSU), Alissa Rich (UNC), Kathryn Williamson (Florida), Rebecca Cushing (MTSU), Meg Morris (UNC) and Ashlee Elliott (Florida).

Middle Tennessee came out in the first half and took the first shot of the match off the leg of Regina Thomas, but it was saved by Blue Devil goalkeeper Tara Campbell. Duke came back and attempted the next nine straight shots but couldn't get anything past the goal line. During that stretch, Pathman took four shots, including one that hit the crossbar, while freshman Laura Weinberg hit the post.

The Blue Devils went on to conclude the first half with a 13-3 shot advantage and finished their second straight match without a goal in the first 45 minutes.

"We were embarrassing the first half," said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. "We were embarrassing with how we came out and played the first half. Please give the credit to Middle Tennessee State. They worked their butts off. They were prepared and their coaching staff outcoached us. They worked extremely hard and played with passion all over the field. Where in the first half, we didn't do any of that. It was really embarrassing for the level of program we have in the first half."

In the second half, Church started with a very different lineup after not being pleased with Duke's first half showing. After not playing in the first stanza, freshman Avery Rape attempted three of the Blue Devils first four shots as the Blue Devils put the pressure on the Blue Raiders.

Shortly after coming into the match, freshman Gilda Doria found a streaking Pathman, who then beat two defenders and Middle Tennessee State goalkeeper Rebecca Cushing on her way to hitting the back right of the net for her third goal of the season. Duke took a 1-0 lead at the 69:48 mark of the second half.

"It was nice," commented Pathman on her goal. "We had been building towards it and I think we had a ton of chances all game. So to finally have one go in was good, but I never doubted we would score."

The Blue Devils added three more shots to close the match, including one off the leg of Pathman that hit the post. Duke's defense was solid all day as Middle Tennessee didn't have any very good scoring chances and were held to only six shots. The Blue Devils attempted a total of 22 on the afternoon.

"We were better in the second half and the group we started -- we changed the lineup a little bit," said Church. "I wasn't disappointed how we played in the second half. It all starts with me. I have to prepare them better and I have to get them set to play. I did a very poor job and I am very fortunate they bailed me out in the second half."

Campbell added her fourth shutout of the season as she notched two saves in 90 minutes. Cushing totaled eight saves for the Blue Raiders.

"There are some positives [in the game]," commented Church. "We played better in the second half and we saw some people really put an impact on the game. Avery Rape was great in the second half. She hasn't played in a while and to come off the bench and give us a spark like that. I thought was absolutely fantastic. I thought Libby Jandl was very good both games all weekend at a high level."

Duke will close out a seven-game homestand on Thursday, Sept. 23 as the Blue Devils will host Wake Forest at 7:00 p.m. It will mark the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opener for both teams.

Notes:

Duke played a total of 20 players on the afternoon.
North Carolina won both of its matches (7-1 over MTSU and 2-0 vs. Florida) to claim the Duke Nike Classic title. Duke was 1-0-1 in the two contests (1-1 vs. Florida, 1-0 against MTSU).
Redshirt sophomore Ashley Rape didn't play due to suffering from the flu.
The last five goals Duke has scored have come by either freshmen or sophomores.

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