Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer at NC State on October 26, 2025 at 7 p.m.
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7 p.m.
Women's Soccer
at NC State
DWS Game Notes: Syracuse, Sunday, 1 PM, ACCN
9/30/2016 11:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Syracuse (7-3-2, 0-2-1) at #10 Duke (7-2-2, 2-0-1)
Sunday, Oct. 2 • 1:00 PM • Durham, N.C.
Koskinen Stadium • ACC Network Extra
ACC Network Extra l Live Stats l Twitter
Duke Welcomes Syracuse to Koskinen Stadium Sunday...
With only three home matches remaining in the regular season, the 10th-ranked Duke women's soccer team (7-2-2, 2-0-1 ACC) will host Syracuse Sunday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. The match will be shown live on Blue Devil Network from Koskinen Stadium.
Sunday's match will be Duke's annual “Pink Game” as the Blue Devils will be wearing pink uniforms and will be raising money to go towards the Em Strong Foundation. There will be a silent auction prior to and during the match to raise money for the foundation. Emily Ayers, who created the foundation, will be an honorary captain and will be recognized prior to the match.
Why the Em Strong Foundation...
One of Duke women's soccer's biggest fans is Emily Ayers. Emily was born with a rare blood disorder that prevented her body from fighting bacterial infections. Through medical treatments, doctors were able to control and protect her immune system for many years, allowing her to play the game she loves - soccer.
At eight years old, Emily's blood began to change and was producing pre-leukemic cells. Her parents were given the news that an immediate bone marrow transplant was needed, as Emily had developed myelodysplastic syndrome, specifically monosomy seven. This would eventually turn into acute myeloid leukemia. With this diagnosis, her parents immediately turned to the Duke Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program.
Emily was blessed with a rare, perfect donor match from her older sister, 12-year-old Kendall. She spent 35 nights in the hospital, completely confined within the transplant unit, and spent many days too sick to leave her bed. Emily has since been released to a local apartment in Durham, with daily clinic visits to Duke. Over the next six months to a year, Emily must remain in a somewhat isolated state, but is looking forward to the day she can kick the ball again on the soccer field with her friends and coach Robbie Church at Duke camp.
Emily has started a foundation, The Em Strong Foundation. The sole purpose of the Foundation is to raise money for and support the Duke Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program and the families with children being treated by this great team of doctors and nurses. While Emily was confined to the hospital unit, she also experienced the great care and compassion from many of the volunteers and staff associated with the program's family support team. They not only help the children going through such a difficult time, they help the families and caregivers of those children.
Now, blessed beyond belief and stronger than ever, Emily stands here with me today CURED! The journey you just heard was not a treatment plan, it was a cure. The Em Strong Foundation will support children like Emily and their families so they can share in the joy and opportunities she had on her way to being cured!
What is Next?...
The Blue Devils will hit the road for two matches in the state of North Carolina next week. Duke will play at Wake Forest Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m., and then will face NC State Sunday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
In the Rankings...
Duke is listed No. 12 in the Soccer America and No. 10 in the NSCAA top 25 rankings, while being No. 6 in the TopDrawerSoccer.com listing. Syracuse is not ranked.
A Look at Syracuse...
Syracuse enters the match with a 7-3-2 overall and 0-2-1 league mark. Since opening ACC action, the Orange have tied Notre Dame (1-1) and been held scoreless against Clemson (0-4) and Miami (0-2). Syracuse will play its third straight road match.
On the season, the Orange have been led by Eva Gordon and Stephanie Skilton with three goals each.
The Series with Syracuse...
Duke and Syracuse will meet for only the second time in school history. The other match came on Sept. 22, 2013 in New York with the two squads finishing in a 2-2 double-overtime draw. Current senior Toni Payne netted an assist as a rookie in the match.
McCoy Lost for Season...
The Blue Devils have lost sophomore forward Kayla McCoy for the remainder of the 2016 campaign, who tore her achilles, after scoring her second goal of the evening versus Boston College Sept. 17. McCoy was leading Duke on the season with four goals and had 12 goals in only 34 career college matches. She had surgery Friday, Sept. 23.
For her two goals versus 16th-ranked Boston College, McCoy earned ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week along with TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week.
Blue Devils to Face Family of Duke Alumna...
The Blue Devils will go up against Syracuse freshman Erin McCann, who is the sister for 2016 Duke graduate Kelly McCann, who hails from Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
Dorsey Nets Career-High Two Goals...
Junior Imani Dorsey collected a career-high two goals and a total of five points on the road at 18th-ranked Virginia Tech. For her efforts, Dorsey earned TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week.
Dorsey now owns a team-high five goals and 14 points. For her career, she has registered 13 goals, nine assists and 35 points.
Shutout List...
Junior goalkeeper EJ Proctor totaled her 16th career shutout versus Virginia Tech, which moved her into tied for fourth place on Duke's all-time shutout list. After giving up six goals in a three-game stretch, the Blue Devils have accumulated two straight shutouts.
CAREER GOALIE SHUTOUTS
1. Melissa Carr, 1992-95 34.0
2. Allison Lipsher, 2004-07 33.0
3. Tara Campbell, 2009-12 30.0
4. EJ Proctor, 2014-present 16.0
Thora Helgadottir, 2000-03 16.0
6. Ronnie Coveleskie, 1988-91 14.8
7. Isis Dallis, 1997-2000 14.5
Offensive Breakthrough...
After scoring 12 goals in the first two matches, Duke went through a stretch where it collected five goals in five matches.
The Blue Devils broke out of their drought against High Point with four goals from Toni Payne, Kayla McCoy, Taylor Racioppi and Christina Gibbons.
Duke added three goals in the win versus Boston College and four goals on the road at Virginia Tech. The Blue Devils own 11 goals over the last four matches.
Against the ACC...
Duke's 2-0-1 record in ACC action is tied for first along with Florida State, Clemson, Notre Dame and Louisville.
In three matches versus ACC opponents, Duke has scored seven goals and allowed only two. Imani Dorsey and Kayla McCoy own two goals, while Ella Stevens, Taylor Racioppi and Christina Gibbons each have scored.
Duke has totaled a tied for team-best seven goals in ACC action along with Boston College.
Dorsey's six points in ACC play leads the league, while EJ Proctor's two shutouts is tied for first.
In the ACC Stats...
Imani Dorsey ranks tied sixth in points (14), tied seventh in goals (5) and tied ninth in shots (33). Taylor Racioppi is tied fourth in assists (5) and EJ Proctor is tied fourth in shutouts (5).
Players Mentioned
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