In an emotional game, the Duke women's soccer team scored two late goals for a win over Vanderbilt, securing an 8-8 record for the 2001 regular season. The loss for the Commodores came on senior night and prevented them from reaching the .500 mark this season.
The game proved to be a tough and intense battle for both teams, and neither could finish on scoring opportunities. In the last seven minutes of the game, however, Duke put two balls into the back of the net. Blue Devils senior Kasey Truman was fouled just outside the box in the 83rd minute and Carly Fuller took the direct kick. Fuller nailed the 20-yard shot right into the upper 90 corner past Vanderbilt goalie Lauren Whitt. Just over three minutes later, senior Alison Sanders hit a volley to make the score 2-0.
Coach Robbie Church believed that overall, his team moved well on and off the ball. He also thought Duke did dominate much of the early part of the game, but just could not get the ball into the back of the net.
Church, who came to Duke from Vanderbilt just this year along with assistant coach Billy Lesesne, was especially emotional in his first time back at Vanderbilt since he last coached there. Church has been following Vanderbilt through the season, rooting for them as well.
"It was weird.... It was a tough situation," Church said of being back on his old territory. "But it was a very important game for us. We had to put [the emotions] aside and go for the win."
Sanders agreed with Church on the high emotions of the game. After sitting out her first two seasons at Duke due to three ACL tears, Sanders has come back to be one of the team's leading scorers.
"I think it was a really emotional game.... We had a rough time scoring. I think we dominated, just couldn't finish until the end," Sanders said. "This has definitely been my favorite season; I think all the seniors would agree. We love Robbie, the team's fun, and it's going to be an emotional postseason."
Vanderbilt coach Ronnie Hill, who played on Duke's first women's team in 1989 and is also a friend of Church, was disappointed with the loss but knew both teams had played well.
"We played well and battled hard tonight," Hill said. "I am not disappointed in our effort at all tonight.... It was an emotional game for the players, the coaches, everyone. I only wish we could have come out on the winning end."
Despite a slow start to the season, the Blue Devils have finally gotten things to go the way they wish. The win over the Commodores gave Duke its third straight win.
"That's three straight games we've had shutouts. When you can put zero on the scoreboard, you're going to win a lot of soccer games," said Church.
Upon returning from Tennessee last night, the team had practice. While it is confident in its ability and the level of play, especially in the last few games, Duke has the ACC tournament coming up and will need to play its best to come out on top. Duke's last loss came from Virginia in hard fought battle that ended with a Virginia win, 2-1 in overtime. The Blue Devils, however, get a second chance against the Virginia Cavaliers Thursday night when they begin the ACC tournament in Winston-Salem.
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