Women's soccer shuts out Blue Devils

2-30-1. The unfortunate record that represents Duke's futility in women's soccer against rival North Carolina since 1989 the year the sport was given varsity status at Duke.

But this year was different. This year the Blue Devils (9-2-1) were off to the second-best start in school history. This year they had risen to No. 8 in the NSCAA coaches' poll and had a six-game unbeaten streak going after a successful nonconference season.

Duke came out Thursday looking to firmly establish itself as a national power" shake off that awful record against UNC and eliminate a dubious distinction of never having beaten the Tar Heels in Durham.

But No.2 North Carolina's (10-1-1) defense wouldn't have any of it in a dominant 3-0 victory.

""I think tonight was our best performance so far as a back line. I think we're working really well together" we're covering for each other" junior Whitney Engen said.

I was really excited with the way we played tonight. We're really starting to come together as a unit.""

The Blue Devils' strikers went to bed checking to see if UNC defenders Engen" Kristi Eveland and Rachel Givan were still shadowing them — as they had been for the past 90 minutes.

And even then they might have wondered if the UNC trio would try to steal their blankets the same way they had taken the ball all game long.

Duke didn't connect on a shot until just more than 37 minutes into the game and didn't get a shot on goal until just under 28 minutes left in the second half. And even that was a weak one that keeper Anna Rodenbough easily snared.

But that's not to say these three didn't have their mettle tested. Though the final score showed a blowout this game remained competitive until junior Casey Nogueira pushed the score to 2-0 with about 20 minutes left.

A full Duke stadium and a feisty Blue Devil attack spurred a short flurry of action with 30 minutes left in the second half that resulted in some close calls near the UNC net.

But just as the Blue Devils started to get a few good opportunities" the North Carolina defense was able to redirect almost all of Duke's shots away from the goal.

Givan said the through balls in the hotly-contested second half tested UNC for the first time in a while — the Tar Heels blew out their last few opponents.

""Rather than just staying up high and winning balls at midfield"" we actually had to win balls around our 18 in the second half.""

Other than that brief spurt of action" the game was a defensive clinic. Every time Duke would approach UNC side of the field or the crowd would get pumped" the Tar Heels immediately would clear the ball and silence the crowd.

North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance praised his back three and said Yael Averbuch also played well in acting as a fourth defender for the Tar Heels.

""I certainly remember being under the gun during different parts of the game" he said. We've got good goaltending" and our defense played very well today.

""With a few exceptions"" we didn't make that many mistakes.""



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.