DURHAM, N.C. – Second-ranked North Carolina held No. 3 Duke to a mere two shots and posted a 3-0 non-conference win over the Blue Devils at Koskinen Stadium on the Duke University campus Thursday night.
With the victory, Carolina (6-1-0) improved to 18-0-2 all-time versus Duke (5-2-0) in Durham and 43-4-3 overall.
Carolina took 15 shots, putting six on target, while only one of Duke’s shots required a save. The Tar Heels also controlled 54 percent of the possession and were the first team to shut out the Blue Devils this season.
“The key to our defensive success is the work ethic of every player that’s out there,” UNC head coach Anson Dorrance said. “We’ve always pressed, and this is a demonstration of who we are at our best.
“Duke is a rival and they beat us last year on our field. That was a great Duke team and I think this year’s Duke team is even better, and we just wanted to play well against them. What you saw was the energy from a bunch of kids that love to play.”
The Tar Heels’ first goal came in the 35th minute when senior Tori Hansen headed the ball past goalkeeper Ruthie Jones off a corner kick from Emily Moxley.
“As a team we knew that corner kicks were going to be an opportunity for us,” Hansen said. “Emily Moxley played an incredible ball, it was on a platter, and I just tapped it in.”
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Emmie Allen made her only save of the game in the first half to extend her scoreless minutes played streak to 315 minutes.
Allen stretched her streak to 360 minutes as she started and finished the second half in goal for the first time this year to complete her first career shutout.
“I felt like they really believed in me,” Allen said. “And it made me less nervous coming into the game knowing that they wanted me to play the whole game and they had confidence in me.”
Emily Murphy scored in the 75th minute off a cross from Sam Meza and Isabel Cox sealed the victory by redirecting Emily Colton’s shot into the goal in the 84th minute.
UNC played 19 players with all four defensive backs (Hansen, Moxley, Tessa Dellarose, Julia Dorsey) staying out for the entire 90 minutes. The six starting midfielders and forwards each played at least 50 minutes with four reserves coming off the bench for 20 or more minutes of action.
With the victory, Carolina (6-1-0) improved to 18-0-2 all-time versus Duke (5-2-0) in Durham and 43-4-3 overall.
Carolina took 15 shots, putting six on target, while only one of Duke’s shots required a save. The Tar Heels also controlled 54 percent of the possession and were the first team to shut out the Blue Devils this season.
“The key to our defensive success is the work ethic of every player that’s out there,” UNC head coach Anson Dorrance said. “We’ve always pressed, and this is a demonstration of who we are at our best.
“Duke is a rival and they beat us last year on our field. That was a great Duke team and I think this year’s Duke team is even better, and we just wanted to play well against them. What you saw was the energy from a bunch of kids that love to play.”
The Tar Heels’ first goal came in the 35th minute when senior Tori Hansen headed the ball past goalkeeper Ruthie Jones off a corner kick from Emily Moxley.
“As a team we knew that corner kicks were going to be an opportunity for us,” Hansen said. “Emily Moxley played an incredible ball, it was on a platter, and I just tapped it in.”
Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Emmie Allen made her only save of the game in the first half to extend her scoreless minutes played streak to 315 minutes.
Allen stretched her streak to 360 minutes as she started and finished the second half in goal for the first time this year to complete her first career shutout.
“I felt like they really believed in me,” Allen said. “And it made me less nervous coming into the game knowing that they wanted me to play the whole game and they had confidence in me.”
Emily Murphy scored in the 75th minute off a cross from Sam Meza and Isabel Cox sealed the victory by redirecting Emily Colton’s shot into the goal in the 84th minute.
UNC played 19 players with all four defensive backs (Hansen, Moxley, Tessa Dellarose, Julia Dorsey) staying out for the entire 90 minutes. The six starting midfielders and forwards each played at least 50 minutes with four reserves coming off the bench for 20 or more minutes of action.
“The goals were magnificent,” Dorrance said. “Every forward poured her heart in this game and I’m very proud of my team right now.”
The Tar Heels return to action Sunday afternoon…
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