Upcoming Event: Women's Soccer versus Notre Dame (Semifinals) on November 6, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
/
5:30 p.m.
Women's Soccer
vs Notre Dame (Semifinals)
Monday, September 11
Greensboro, N.C.
6:30 p.m.
Duke University
at
UNC Greensboro
Photo by: Duke Athletics
Blue Devils Travel to Greensboro Sunday to Close Non-Conference Play
9/9/2023 10:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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Match 6
#14 Duke (3-2-0) at UNC Greensboro (3-3-1)
Sunday, September 10, 2023 - 6 PM (ET) – ESPN+
Greensboro, N.C. (UNCG Soccer Stadium)
ESPN+ Talent: Jon Gross (PXP), Sari Rose (Analyst)
NEED TO KNOW
•   In the final non-conference match of the regular season for No. 14 Duke (3-2-0), the Blue Devils will travel to Greensboro, N.C., to face UNC Greensboro (3-3-1) Sunday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m.
•   Sunday's match versus the Spartans will be aired live on ESPN+ with Jon Gross (PXP) and Sari Rose (Analyst) calling the action.
•   Duke head coach Robbie Church returns to his home city of Greensboro for Sunday's match. He grew up playing soccer matches at UNCG and is expected to have family and friends in attendance Sunday.
•   The Blue Devils hit the road for only the second time this season, but this time only 54 miles away rather than across the country to Stanford. Â
•   The Blue Devils are 66-6-0 (.917) all-time against non-conference opponents from the state of North Carolina. Duke has won 17 straight matches versus non-conference teams from North Carolina, while outscoring those opponents 60-2. The last loss was to UNC Greensboro in Chapel Hill on Aug. 28, 2009.
•   Over the last two seasons, Duke has lost six student-athletes that have gone on to play in the NWSL.
STORYLINES/OTHER BLUE DEVIL NOTES
•   Kat Rader's goal at the 8:39 mark of the first half against East Carolina was the fastest goal of the 2023 season for the Blue Devils.
•   Katie Groff and Devin Lynch have connected for two goals off corner kicks this season (West Virginia and East Carolina).
•   After playing only three subs in the first half against West Virginia in the opener, the Blue Devils have increased the subs in each match. In the last two matches, seven players have come off the bench to see action. Â
•   Duke scored goals in the first half in the first three games for the first time since the 2017 season. In 2017, the Blue Devils totaled goals in the first half in each of the first seven matches. Overall, Duke has notched five first-half goals in five matches, while scoring only two in the second half.
•   In her first two seasons, when Kat Rader scores, the Blue Devils feature a 12-1-1 ledger. Rader has scored four of Duke's seven goals this season and has 16 over her short career. She became just the sixth Blue Devil to register goals in each of her first three matches to start a season.
•   Duke welcomes 11 newcomers to the 2023 roster as head coach Robbie Church enters his 23rd season with the Blue Devils. Â
•   Leah Freeman earned a trio of preseason honors -- MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, TopDrawerSoccer Best XI First Team along with United Soccer Coaches Goalkeepers Watch List.
•   Senior Maggie Graham enters her first season at Duke without her sister, Delaney, as Delaney graduated this past year and is now enrolled in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tenn., to start the process of being a doctor. Â
•   The Blue Devils will need to replace the reigning MAC Hermann Trophy Award winner Michelle Cooper, after she turned professional following her sophomore season with Duke. In two seasons, Cooper scored 31 goals, added 16 assists and posted 78 points. She scored in 29-of-40 matches. Â
THE SERIES WITH UNC GREENSBORO
•   Duke features a series record of 15-5-0 against the Spartans and has won three straight in the series.
•   Last year the Blue Devils registered a 3-1 victory over the Spartans with senior Maggie Graham registering a pair of goals. Â
•   Robbie Church is 6-2-0 all-time against UNC Greensboro.
•   The Blue Devils are 4-3-0 on the road in Greensboro.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
•   UNCG enters the match with a 3-3-1 ledger and winners of two in a row over Elon and Coastal Carolina.
•   The Spartans have outscored their last two opponents by a 5-0 ledger.
•   On the season, UNC Greensboro has six different players who have scored. Ava Kiss and Caroline Woods lead the Spartans with two goals each. Â
DUKE VS. THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
•   Duke is on a five-game winning streak and holds a 26-5-0 record against Southern Conference teams.
A WIN WOULD...
•   Move Duke to 4-2-0 on the season.
•   Improve to 67-6-0 all-time against non-conference opponents from the state of North Carolina.
•   Be the 18th straight versus non-conference teams from North Carolina.
HEADING BACK HOME TO GREENSBORO
•   Duke head coach Robbie Church heads back to his home city of Greensboro this weekend to conclude non-conference action.
•   Church's sister and family lives in Greensboro. He will have many family and friends in attendance.
•   Growing up, Church went to UNC Greensboro and played soccer often. Â
LINEUP SHAKEUP
•   The Blue Devils shook up the starting lineup against East Carolina, following the loss to Stanford.
•   Julia Saunicheva and Cameron Roller made their first starts of their Duke careers, while Nicky Chico started for the third time this season.
•   Senior Emily Royson had her 51-match starting streak come to and end as she came off the bench on defense.
ROLLER IMPRESSIVE IN BACK
•   After missing most of the season coming off a summer injury, freshman Cameron Roller made her first collegiate start against East Carolina Thursday.
•   Roller saw action in 81 minutes in the contest and was impressive at center back.
•   Coming into Duke as a rookie, Roller was the highest-rated of the eight-member freshman class as she was No. 5 in the class. She was also the top defender in the class of 2023. Â
A LOOK BACK AT LAST YEAR
•   Maggie Graham tallied her second brace of her career leading Duke to a 3-1 victory at home last year on Aug. 21. Â
•   Graham connected on a penalty kick at the 4:31 mark.
•   The Spartans added a goal at the 34:27 mark.
•   Julia Burnell headed in her first-career goal as time expired in the first half to give Duke a 2-1 lead at the break.
•   Graham scored again in the 69:43 mark off a corner kick from Mackenzie Pluck. Â
•   The Blue Devils outshot UNCG by a 22-2 ledger.
IN THE ACC STATS
•   Kat Rader's four goals ranks tied for fifth in the ACC, while her .80 goals per game average ranks third. Rader has played in the fewest matches of anyone in the top-10 of the rankings. Â
•   Leah Freeman ranks tied for seventh in the ACC with two shutouts. Â
•   Rader's three game-winning goals ranks tied for first in the ACC.
Â
Match 6
#14 Duke (3-2-0) at UNC Greensboro (3-3-1)
Sunday, September 10, 2023 - 6 PM (ET) – ESPN+
Greensboro, N.C. (UNCG Soccer Stadium)
ESPN+ Talent: Jon Gross (PXP), Sari Rose (Analyst)
NEED TO KNOW
•   In the final non-conference match of the regular season for No. 14 Duke (3-2-0), the Blue Devils will travel to Greensboro, N.C., to face UNC Greensboro (3-3-1) Sunday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m.
•   Sunday's match versus the Spartans will be aired live on ESPN+ with Jon Gross (PXP) and Sari Rose (Analyst) calling the action.
•   Duke head coach Robbie Church returns to his home city of Greensboro for Sunday's match. He grew up playing soccer matches at UNCG and is expected to have family and friends in attendance Sunday.
•   The Blue Devils hit the road for only the second time this season, but this time only 54 miles away rather than across the country to Stanford. Â
•   The Blue Devils are 66-6-0 (.917) all-time against non-conference opponents from the state of North Carolina. Duke has won 17 straight matches versus non-conference teams from North Carolina, while outscoring those opponents 60-2. The last loss was to UNC Greensboro in Chapel Hill on Aug. 28, 2009.
•   Over the last two seasons, Duke has lost six student-athletes that have gone on to play in the NWSL.
STORYLINES/OTHER BLUE DEVIL NOTES
•   Kat Rader's goal at the 8:39 mark of the first half against East Carolina was the fastest goal of the 2023 season for the Blue Devils.
•   Katie Groff and Devin Lynch have connected for two goals off corner kicks this season (West Virginia and East Carolina).
•   After playing only three subs in the first half against West Virginia in the opener, the Blue Devils have increased the subs in each match. In the last two matches, seven players have come off the bench to see action. Â
•   Duke scored goals in the first half in the first three games for the first time since the 2017 season. In 2017, the Blue Devils totaled goals in the first half in each of the first seven matches. Overall, Duke has notched five first-half goals in five matches, while scoring only two in the second half.
•   In her first two seasons, when Kat Rader scores, the Blue Devils feature a 12-1-1 ledger. Rader has scored four of Duke's seven goals this season and has 16 over her short career. She became just the sixth Blue Devil to register goals in each of her first three matches to start a season.
•   Duke welcomes 11 newcomers to the 2023 roster as head coach Robbie Church enters his 23rd season with the Blue Devils. Â
•   Leah Freeman earned a trio of preseason honors -- MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, TopDrawerSoccer Best XI First Team along with United Soccer Coaches Goalkeepers Watch List.
•   Senior Maggie Graham enters her first season at Duke without her sister, Delaney, as Delaney graduated this past year and is now enrolled in the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tenn., to start the process of being a doctor. Â
•   The Blue Devils will need to replace the reigning MAC Hermann Trophy Award winner Michelle Cooper, after she turned professional following her sophomore season with Duke. In two seasons, Cooper scored 31 goals, added 16 assists and posted 78 points. She scored in 29-of-40 matches. Â
THE SERIES WITH UNC GREENSBORO
•   Duke features a series record of 15-5-0 against the Spartans and has won three straight in the series.
•   Last year the Blue Devils registered a 3-1 victory over the Spartans with senior Maggie Graham registering a pair of goals. Â
•   Robbie Church is 6-2-0 all-time against UNC Greensboro.
•   The Blue Devils are 4-3-0 on the road in Greensboro.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
•   UNCG enters the match with a 3-3-1 ledger and winners of two in a row over Elon and Coastal Carolina.
•   The Spartans have outscored their last two opponents by a 5-0 ledger.
•   On the season, UNC Greensboro has six different players who have scored. Ava Kiss and Caroline Woods lead the Spartans with two goals each. Â
DUKE VS. THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
•   Duke is on a five-game winning streak and holds a 26-5-0 record against Southern Conference teams.
A WIN WOULD...
•   Move Duke to 4-2-0 on the season.
•   Improve to 67-6-0 all-time against non-conference opponents from the state of North Carolina.
•   Be the 18th straight versus non-conference teams from North Carolina.
HEADING BACK HOME TO GREENSBORO
•   Duke head coach Robbie Church heads back to his home city of Greensboro this weekend to conclude non-conference action.
•   Church's sister and family lives in Greensboro. He will have many family and friends in attendance.
•   Growing up, Church went to UNC Greensboro and played soccer often. Â
LINEUP SHAKEUP
•   The Blue Devils shook up the starting lineup against East Carolina, following the loss to Stanford.
•   Julia Saunicheva and Cameron Roller made their first starts of their Duke careers, while Nicky Chico started for the third time this season.
•   Senior Emily Royson had her 51-match starting streak come to and end as she came off the bench on defense.
ROLLER IMPRESSIVE IN BACK
•   After missing most of the season coming off a summer injury, freshman Cameron Roller made her first collegiate start against East Carolina Thursday.
•   Roller saw action in 81 minutes in the contest and was impressive at center back.
•   Coming into Duke as a rookie, Roller was the highest-rated of the eight-member freshman class as she was No. 5 in the class. She was also the top defender in the class of 2023. Â
A LOOK BACK AT LAST YEAR
•   Maggie Graham tallied her second brace of her career leading Duke to a 3-1 victory at home last year on Aug. 21. Â
•   Graham connected on a penalty kick at the 4:31 mark.
•   The Spartans added a goal at the 34:27 mark.
•   Julia Burnell headed in her first-career goal as time expired in the first half to give Duke a 2-1 lead at the break.
•   Graham scored again in the 69:43 mark off a corner kick from Mackenzie Pluck. Â
•   The Blue Devils outshot UNCG by a 22-2 ledger.
IN THE ACC STATS
•   Kat Rader's four goals ranks tied for fifth in the ACC, while her .80 goals per game average ranks third. Rader has played in the fewest matches of anyone in the top-10 of the rankings. Â
•   Leah Freeman ranks tied for seventh in the ACC with two shutouts. Â
•   Rader's three game-winning goals ranks tied for first in the ACC.
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Players Mentioned
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