DURHAM, N.C.-In stomach-churning, heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat fashion, the Virginia women's soccer team lost to Duke in a penalty kick shootout in the first round of the ACC Tournament last night at the Blue Devils' Koskinen Stadium.
The No. 19 Cavaliers made it through 90 minutes of scoreless regulation play, two 15-minute periods of scoreless overtime and five rounds of penalty kicks before the sixth round decided the game. Duke senior Stefanie Kraay made her shot past Cav freshman goalkeeper Jodi Clugston, but Virginia junior Laura Gaworecki's subsequent shot went wide.
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Although Virginia's ACC title hopes are over, the fact that the match-up between the fourth-seeded Cavs (10-7-1) and fifth-seeded Blue Devils (12-6-1) went all the way to penalty kicks to determine a winner proves just how equally the teams were matched.
"It was a very evenly contested match," Virginia coach Steve Swanson said. "We had some good chances, but they did too. I thought it was a close game."
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Blue Devil coach Bill Hempen agreed that the quarterfinal match was anybody's game right until the end.
"It was a hard-fought game on both sides," Hempen said. "We were just determined to finish it on top."
The scoreless tie was more a result of the skill of the defenses rather than either team's offensive inability. The combined total of 21 shots in 120 minutes of play gives evidence to the spectacular plays made by the defenses, especially on the Virginia side.
On more than one occasion, Virginia's Clugston found herself making a diving save amidst a scramble in front of the goal. But time and again, Cav defenders like Kelly Worden - who was playing on a weak ankle - and Melissa Somadelis came to the rescue, clearing the ball to safety.
Clugston did it herself on occasion as well. With about two minutes remaining in regulation, Blue Devils defender Margaret Lea poked a diving header toward the Cav goal, but Clugston immediately dropped to snag the ball.
"I thought we played strong defensively," Swanson said. "It's too bad we couldn't end the game on that note."
Up against Duke's talented backfield, Virginia's offense struggled with the same kind of frustrating moments. Center midfielder Lori Lindsey, who was named ACC Player of the Year last week, had quite a few breakaways, but the Duke defense halted her before she could get a shot on goal.
Blue Devils freshman goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir also stood out as a defensive stalwart. She, like Clugston, was forced to come out and attack the opposing offense. Helgadottir took a prime scoring opportunity away from Cav forward Darci Borski by pouncing on a ball that Borski flubbed slightly.
In yesterday's other ACC Tournament action, third-seeded North Carolina ousted sixth-seeded N.C. State and seventh-seeded Florida State upset second-seeded Wake Forest on penalty kicks. Tonight, Duke plays the winner of last night's late match between top-seeded Clemson and eighth-seeded Maryland.
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