BLACKSBURG, Va. - Duke (9-3-1) continued their winning streak with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Virginia Tech (4-9-3) on Saturday afternoon at Thompson Field. The Blue Devils extended their winning run to three matches while handing the Hokies their fourth consecutive loss.
Mia Minestrella opened the scoring for Duke in the 54th minute, followed by Julia Saunicheva's strike in the 56th minute off assists from Minestrella and Caroline Dysart. Avery Oder extended Duke's lead in the 71st minute with Mia Oliaro providing the assist. The Hokies mounted a late comeback with Natalie Mitchell finding the net in the 79th minute from Samantha DeGuzman's feed, and Anna Weir adding another in the 87th minute assisted by Taylor Price and Hannah Pachan.
The first half saw Virginia Tech's Anna Weir testing Duke's defense early with four shots in the opening seven minutes. Duke's Elle Piper responded with a dangerous attempt in the 8th minute, while Mia Minestrella and Mia Oliaro both created scoring opportunities before the break. The teams entered halftime deadlocked at 0-0 despite combining for 15 shot attempts.
Duke seized control after the restart with Julia Saunicheva's shot in the 47th minute signaling their attacking intent. The Blue Devils' three-goal burst between the 54th and 71st minutes proved decisive, though Virginia Tech's late resurgence created a tense finish. Key substitutions by both sides, including the removal of Duke's Devin Lynch, Kat Rader, and Julia Saunicheva in the 69th minute, influenced the match's tactical flow.
The final statistics reflected the match's competitive nature, with Duke recording 18 shot attempts to Virginia Tech's 11. Both teams managed 8 saves, while the Blue Devils held a slight 4-2 advantage in corner kicks. Neither side received any cautions in what remained a cleanly contested match.
Mia Minestrella's performance stood out for Duke, contributing both a goal and an assist before being substituted in the 59th minute. Virginia Tech's Anna Weir proved dangerous throughout, recording five shots including her late goal. Both goalkeepers were kept busy, each making crucial saves to keep their teams in contention.
Duke's tactical approach emphasized quick transitions and wing play, particularly effective during their three-goal surge. Virginia Tech's resilience showed in their ability to maintain offensive pressure despite falling behind, evidenced by their 10 shots on target.
The victory strengthens Duke's position in the ACC standings as they continue their impressive form, having now won three straight including a notable victory over North Carolina. For Virginia Tech, despite the result extending their losing streak to four matches, their late comeback demonstrated promising offensive capabilities.
Looking ahead, Duke returns home to face Syracuse on October 23rd at 7:00 PM, while Virginia Tech hosts Notre Dame the same evening at 8:00 PM. Both matches carry significant implications for ACC tournament positioning as the regular season enters its final stretch.