DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA — #2 Duke defeated #7 UCF 1-0 on Thursday in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, extending its winning streak to two matches before 882 spectators at Koskinen Stadium. The Blue Devils' defense proved suffocating throughout, limiting the seventh-seeded Knights to just two shots on goal while controlling possession and creating consistent attacking opportunities.
Mia Minestrella scored the decisive goal in the 34th minute, assisted by Julia Saunicheva.. The goal came during a dominant first-half performance by Duke, which generated multiple scoring chances before breaking through in the final minutes before halftime. The strike proved enough to secure the victory in a tightly contested tournament matchup.
Duke's offensive dominance was evident in the statistics. The Blue Devils unleashed 26 shot attempts compared to UCF's six, while outshooting the Knights 16-2 on target. Duke also earned 14 corner kicks to UCF's two, creating numerous set-piece opportunities throughout the 90 minutes. Despite this overwhelming advantage in possession and chances, Duke's defense remained equally impressive, with goalkeeper making two saves to preserve the shutout.
UCF's defensive approach limited Duke's ability to add insurance goals despite the lopsided shot totals. The Knights' goalkeeper recorded 15 saves, making several crucial stops to keep the match within reach. However, UCF struggled to generate meaningful offensive pressure, with Liz Worden and Rajanah Reed unable to create dangerous scoring opportunities against Duke's organized backline.
Both teams made significant adjustments at halftime, with Duke replacing Lauren Martinho, Avery Oder, and Farrah Walters while UCF brought in fresh legs with substitutions of Ella Holloran, Edidiong Etim, and Gabi Berchon. Duke's second-half substitutions at the 66-minute mark, removing Devin Lynch and Julia Saunicheva, further demonstrated the team's depth and tactical flexibility. Duke now plays Kansas.