The women's soccer team competed twice over Fall Break, opening with 3-0 loss to Florida Friday evening, but then rebounding Sunday to beat Florida International 2-1. Against FIU (7-3, 2-1), Alison Sanders provided both goals, and the Blue Devils (5-7) managed to withstand a late Golden Panther run to hold on and snap a four-game losing streak.
Duke began the weekend against the 15th-ranked Florida Gators, and held tight until just before halftime.
"We played well until we gave up a fairly soft goal with three minutes left in the first half," Church said. "In the second half we didn't pressure; we just didn't seem to have as intense a focus as we did earlier."
Church suggested that his team began the weekend fatigued, still recovering from the effects of the previous weekend's road trip to Clemson and Florida State, two nationally ranked ACC foes who the Blue Devils nearly upset, but ultimately fell to each by a single goal.
"We didn't play as well at Florida as we did the weekend before," Church said. "I think a lot of that
Although tired, Duke continued to play hard, and their efforts culminated in its win against FIU, the Blue Devils' first victory in over two weeks. The game remained scoreless entering the second half, but Sanders put Duke ahead within the half's opening minutes, neatly finishing a cross from Sarah Pickens.
Sanders later added an insurance goal in the contest's 77th minute, one the Blue Devils would desperately need. The Golden Panthers mounted a desperation surge in the game's final minutes, as Alisa Jonassen deposited a header past Duke goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir.
The weekend's matches featured two Blue Devils needing to gain experience after missing substantial portions of the season due to injury.
Sophomore Gwendolyn Oxenham continued to work her way back from a hamstring injury. An essential component of the team's offensive attack, the lightning quick Oxenham continued to regain her playing chemistry with her teammates.
"We've got to get her in more dangerous situations," Church said. "She hasn't had the ball enough. So we're going to work on that this week, and try to get her the ball more and let her run into players."
Also returning to action was senior midfielder Kasey Truman. Recovering from multiple knee injuries, Truman played in her first games since 1999. Despite battling fatigue as she works her way back into game shape, Truman impressed her team with her performance.
"Kasey played really, really well against Florida," Church said. "She was one of the bright spots. The game against FIU was difficult, because in the first game she had so much adrenaline. On [Sunday] her legs were a little heavy, especially after playing Friday and then driving in a bus six hours."
Needing to string together victories in order to make the NCAA tournament, Duke hopes to get rested and then build on the weekend's results. The Blue Devils play Virginia this Friday.
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