DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - Carina Lageyre needed just 48 minutes and 37 seconds to spark a thrilling encounter between Duke and North Carolina, ultimately propelling the Blue Devils to a 3-2 victory before 2,147 fans at Koskinen Stadium.
The early goal set the tone for what became an action-packed contest, with Lageyre slotting home a perfectly weighted through ball from Avery Oder and Julia Saunicheva. The Blue Devils' early strike forced the Tar Heels to regroup and adjust their defensive strategy, but they couldn't stem the tide of Duke's relentless attack.
Avery Oder doubled Duke's advantage just four minutes after Lageyre's opener, unleashing a powerful shot that left North Carolina's goalkeeper scrambling. The Blue Devils' second goal came as a result of their superior ball control and movement, with Oder orchestrating the attack that led to her own goal.
The Tar Heels pushed hard for a response, but Duke's defense marshaled their resources effectively, withstanding the pressure and limiting North Carolina's scoring opportunities. The Blue Devils' backline, marshaled by Kate Faasse and Bella Devey, absorbed the Tar Heels' attacks and launched swift counterattacks that threatened to further increase their lead.
Devin Lynch's 74th-minute strike, assisted by Farrah Walters and Mia Oliaro, gave Duke a seemingly comfortable 3-0 advantage. However, North Carolina refused to give up, and their persistence was rewarded with two late goals that made the final score more respectable. Eres Freifeld scored in the 89th minute, assisted by Kate Faasse and Bella Devey, in a moment of individual brilliance that will provide a glimmer of hope for the Tar Heels as they look to regroup.
The statistical ledger reveals a closely contested match, with Duke outshooting North Carolina 14-8 overall and holding a marginal advantage in shots on target (6-4). The Blue Devils also edged the corner-kick battle 4-3, though neither team capitalized on their set-piece opportunities. The saves column tells a similar story, with both goalkeepers making three saves apiece to deny their opponents.
The victory represents Duke's eighth win of the season and maintains their 3-3 conference record. The Blue Devils have now won two consecutive matches, and their confidence is growing as they prepare to face Virginia Tech next. For North Carolina, the loss extends their losing streak to one game, and they will look to regroup against SMU in their upcoming fixture.
The afternoon belonged to Duke, and specifically to their attacking trio of Lageyre, Oder, and Lynch. The Blue Devils' forwards showed clinical finishing and intelligent movement, constantly testing North Carolina's defense and ultimately securing a well-deserved victory.
Key Players:
Carina Lageyre (Duke) – The forward showed predatory instincts, timing her run perfectly to latch onto Oder and Saunicheva's through ball before finishing with composure.
Avery Oder (Duke) – Controlled the midfield battle with intelligent positioning and distribution, constantly finding teammates in space and dictating Duke's possession-based approach.
Devin Lynch (Duke) – Showed clinical finishing, converting a well-worked team move into a crucial third goal that sealed the win for the Blue Devils.
Eres Freifeld (North Carolina) – Scored a late consolation goal, providing a glimmer of hope for the Tar Heels as they look to regroup.