The No. 8 North Carolina women's soccer team (14-4, 7-3 ACC) fell, 3-2, to the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils (14-1-1, 9-0-1 ACC) on Thursday night at Dorrance Field.
After losing for the first time against the Blue Devils in Durham earlier this year, this also marks the first time North Carolina has fallen to Duke twice in one season. Even with a goal from the Tar Heels in the last three minutes, the Blue Devils capitalized on lapses in UNC's defense to keep the Carolina Blue-clad team out of reach.
In the first 20 minutes of play, the Tar Heels found an early opportunity to score. Junior forward Maddie Dahlien had a clear look at the goal with no defenders in front of her inside the box, but a Duke defender stripped her of the opportunity.
Following the early look, the Blue Devils put the first point on the board in the 29th minute. Duke's midfielder Hannah Bebar took a shot just outside of the box positioned in the center of the field.
Through the traffic, the ball found the right corner of the net.
In an attempt to find the equalizer, sophomore forward Olivia Thomas fired off two shots in the at the 31 and 34 minute mark.
After her first shot was saved by Duke's goalkeeper Leah Freeman, Thomas found an amble opportunity three minutes later. With Freeman playing up further in the box, the forward shot from inside the box. The ball traveled too far to the right.
The back-and-forth continued until the first half ended with Duke up 1-0.
Barely five minutes into the second half, Bebar went to work once again.
