Boston College
Duke
Women's Soccer Captures First ACC Tournament Victory
November 05, 2008 | Women's Soccer
Nov. 5, 2008
Cary, North Carolina -
The Boston College women's soccer has reached a number of goals this season but none more important than this afternoon's 1-0 win over Duke in the quarterfinals of the ACC Championship at the WakeMed Soccer Park. It was the Eagles first ACC post-season victory since Boston College (13-4-2) joined the conference in 2005.
Boston College, the fourth seed, advances to the semifinal of the ACC Championship and will play No. 1 seeded North Carolina on Friday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. North Carolina defeated Miami, 1-0, in the first game of the tournament.
"We have achieved a number of firsts this season, this is the biggest first of all with a postseason ACC win,'' said Boston College head coach Alison Kulik. "This was our mission."
The Eagles attacked often and early. Sophomore Brooke Knowlton would change the face of the game at 13:14 in the game. Junior Gina DiMartino sent sophomore Amy Caldwell into the box. Caldwell one-timed a shot which hit the crossbar and Knowlton headed in the rebound for a 1-0 Eagles lead.
It was Knowlton's team-leading eighth goal of the season, while Caldwell picked up her third assist of the season and DiMartino notched her fifth.
Caldwell almost gave BC a two-goal lead in the 21st minute of play when she broke in the box with a Duke defender hanging on her side. Caldwell's shot was saved by the Duke goalkeeper Cassidy Powers (three saves).
BC controlled the pace of the half and out-shot Duke, 6-4.
"We got on top of the game early with great tackles and good possession,'' said Kulik. "Duke is a really good team, but we did what we needed to do to get to the next round.''
The second half was much the same. Just five minutes into the play, BC freshman Julia Bouchelle had a great chance that was snuffed out by Powers. Minutes later Duke would have three straight corner kicks but the Eagles defense, which has been solid all season, cleared the ball and did not give up a shot under pressure.
Another great chance came off Bouchelle's foot in the 71st minute. The freshman midfielder ripped a shot from just outside the box which hit the crossbar.
Boston College freshman goalkeeper Jillian Mastroianni finished with three saves and earned her eighth career shutout. The Eagles out-shot Duke, 12-10, in the game, while Duke had nine corner kicks to BC's three.
