TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The second-seeded Duke women’s soccer team dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker in double-overtime on the road at top-seeded Alabama on Friday evening in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals at Alabama Soccer Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
The Blue Devils fought back from being down, 2-0, in the second half to even the match and send it into overtime, but the Crimson Tide netted the eventual game-winner in the first overtime to advance to the NCAA College Cup. Duke concludes its season with a 15-4-3 ledger.
How It Happened
• Alabama came out on the attack and took the first five shots of the match, which three were saved by Blue Devil senior goalkeeper Ruthie Jones.
• Freshman Kat Rader attempted Duke’s first shot, which Alabama goalkeeper Mckinley Crone made a diving stop to her right in the 13th minute.
• In the final seven minutes of the first half, Rader and freshman Devin Lynch both attempted shots.
• Alabama outshot the Blue Devils, 9-3, in the first half.
• Olivia Migli attempted the first shot of the second half, which went just wide of the far post at the 48:47 mark.
• In the 68th minute, Alabama broke through and took a 1-0 lead as Gianna Ala Paul punched in a ball that deflected off Jones and settled by her feet, before finishing.
• The Crimson Tide went ahead 2-0 exactly four minutes later as Riley Tanner and Gessica Skorka found Ashlynn Serepca for the goal.
• Michelle Cooper made her first shot of the match count at the 75:30 mark as Delaney Graham found her streaking down the right side of the box. Cooper hit the bottom far corner of the goal to give her 18 tallies on the season and cut the Alabama lead to 2-1.
• A little over three minutes later, Cooper added her second goal off assists from Elle Piper and Rader.
• Lynch had a great chance at the 83:18 mark as Rader found her at the top of the box, but her attempt sailed just over the crossbar.
• At the end of regulation, Alabama held a 20-8 shot advantage.
• Rader featured an excellent chance at goal to open the first overtime off a tremendous pass from Cooper, but Crone made a great save.
• Jones came up…
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