Women's Soccer Posts 1-1 Draw With No. 6 Maryland

Sunday, September 26

College Park, Md.

1:00 p.m.

Duke University

6-2-1, 0-1-1

Maryland

8-0-1, 0-0-1

OT 1

OT 2

#13 Duke

#8/6 Maryland

Women's Soccer Posts 1-1 Draw With No. 6 Maryland

9/26/2010 6:11:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The 13th-ranked Duke women's soccer team registered its second draw against a top-10 ranked opponent on Sunday as the Blue Devils finished with a 1-1 tie against sixth-ranked Maryland at Ludwig Field in College Park, Md.

The Blue Devils moved to 6-2-3 overall and 0-1-1 in ACC play, while the Terrapins drop to 8-0-1, 0-0-1 in ACC action.

“I thought we were unbelievable today,” said Duke Head Coach Robbie Church. “For us to play the game on Thursday night -- it was a tough, tough loss as we felt like we should have won that game. Then for us to train for two days, get on the bus, get here last night and then turn around and play a rested Maryland team -- the girls just played their hearts out. I am just so proud of them.”

In the first half, Duke outshot Maryland, 5-3, but it was the Terrapins that nearly got on the board first as Jasmyne Spencer's attempt in the 11th minute hit the right post and came back to Blue Devil goalkeeper Tara Campbell.

Duke finally broke the scoreless tie in the 62nd minute on redshirt freshman Callie Simpkins' third goal of the season. A cross by senior Molly Lester was loose in the Maryland box and Simpkins did well to redirect it into the Terrapin goal.

“It was a great service by Molly and then Callie went out, worked hard and saw the ball pop loose and then finished it,” said Church. “I was so happy to see Callie score that goal as she is originally from Maryland -- lived there for eight years. She has been working so hard, after missing last year. Not only did she score that goal, she played really, really well.”

The Blue Devils nearly had the insurance goal in the 74th and 75th minutes, but Megan Gibbons saved the day for the Terps. A Duke free kick was sent to the left side of the Terrapin goal and Maryland goalkeeper Yewande Balogun was unable to get across the front of the goal, giving the Blue Devils a wide open net at which to shoot. But Gibbons was there to stop not one, but two Duke shots off the legs of Simpkins and freshman Laura Weinberg from finding the back of the net and keep it a one-goal game.

Following the two team saves by Maryland, the ball went back in the Duke zone and Campbell tried to come out and make the stop, but Ashley Grove made a great move and finished in the empty net from 20 yards out to even the score, 1-1, in the 75th minute.

At the end of regulation, Duke held a 13-11 shot advantage but in both overtimes the Blue Devils were outshot a combined 9-1 to finish the contest with a 20-14 shot lead by the Terrapins.

“We battled, scratched and clawed the whole game,” Church commented. “We got a goal and unfortunately it didn't stand up. We didn't drop our heads afterwards as we kept fighting back. We were tired at the end of the game for sure, but it was a really, really gutsy performance. We were close to getting three points, but we will take one point, go home and take a couple of days off.”

Simpkins, who is a product of Concord, N.C., missed all of last season with a knee injury and saw action in a career-high 88 minutes on Sunday. She is now tied for second on the Duke squad with three goals.

In goal for the Blue Devils, Campbell finished with six saves in 110 minutes of play, while Balogun added five stops for the Terrapins.

Duke will next travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to face Florida State on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 1:00 p.m.

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