Second-ranked Duke dominated, getting out to a 3-0 lead before #25 Virginia tacked on a late goal in a 3-1 loss.
The Blue Devils (8-1-0, 3-0-0 ACC) struck first, scoring in the ninth minute off the foot of Farrah Walters. Walters and Maggie Graham started the play in the midfield with a combo play. Walters passed to Graham, who volleyed it over the Virginia defense, where it was picked up by Walters on the run.
Cavaliers keeper Victoria Safradin came out of the box to challenge Walters, but the Duke player got around the sliding Safradin and finished on the empty net for the Blue Devil lead.
The second Duke goal came in the 48th minute with a header from Mia Oliaro. Devin Lynch played the ball out wide on the left wing to Ella Hase, who dribbled toward the end line. Hase cut in toward the box and made a hesitation move around her defender to create space for a service to the back post.
Oliaro met it in the air at the corner of the six and headed it down between the keeper and the post for the score.
Duke scored its third goal in the 65th minute when Oliaro’s service to the top of the six was headed back across goal and in by the right post by Lynch for the 3-0 lead.
Virginia (8-4-0, 1-4-0 ACC) got on the board in the 80th minute off a header from Meredith McDermott. Linda Mittermair took a corner kick for the ‘Hoos, sending the ball into the center of the six, where McDermott got her head on it ahead of the keeper going for the punch for the score.
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Chris Graham
