The Duke women’s soccer team held their postseason opponent scoreless at Koskinen Stadium for the second straight game, defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 3-0 on Friday night to reach the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Blue Devils entered Friday’s game with nothing but momentum. Duke entered the postseason as the top overall seed after a 14-2-1 regular season record, and it delivered on that reputation with an 8-0 victory over Howard after sophomore Mia Minestrella scored four goals. However, the Red Raiders held their own for nearly half the game with no score through the first 43 minutes.
However, as the opening half drew to a close, a familiar name came through for the Blue Devils. Fifth-year midfielder Maggie Graham, who scored twice against Howard, managed to beat a defender to control a deflected ball near the top of the box with about 70 seconds left on the clock.
Graham surged forward and booted an effort toward the far corner of the net, just beating the outstretched hand of Red Raiders goalie Faith Nguyen for the opening goal.
Less than eight minutes after play resumed, Ella Hase raced down the pitch toward the goal before firing a crosser toward Graham. With a Texas Tech defender on her right arm, the Blue Devils star managed to pop a touch shot over Nguyen’s right shoulder for her second goal of the night.
In the blink of an eye, the Red Raiders went from holding their own against the best team in the country to a near-insurmountable deficit. Graham’s four postseason goals have her up to 14 for the season, 10 more than her previous career high.
Mia Oliaro tacked on the third goal of the evening in the final five minutes, and Duke keeper Leah Freeman only needed to save one attempt from the Red Raiders. Duke ended with 19 shots to Texas Tech’s five.
The Blue Devils will face Michigan State in the next round of the postseason after the Spartans took down the Texas Longhorns, 3-2.
