DURHAM, N.C. – The breakthrough scored in the 40th minute just before the break by Duke substitute Katy Colas proved to be the difference in the final scoreline as the visiting LSU Tigers suffered a hard-fought 1-0 defeat to the 25th-ranked Blue Devils on a blustery Sunday afternoon at Koskinen Stadium on the campus of Duke University.
In the wake of their 4-3 victory against BYU in Provo, Utah, on Thursday night, the Tigers (4-3-1) saw their two-game unbeaten streak snapped by the Blue Devils (4-4) as they continued a four-game road swing Sunday in Durham, North Carolina. The Tigers also dropped to 0-1-1 in their all-time series with Duke.
Head coach Brian Lee shared his excitement with the performance of his young team on such a difficult cross-country road trip this weekend as the Tigers now look ahead to the start of SEC play.
“It’s always a difficult task any time you have to travel to places like BYU and Duke on the same weekend and come away with a result,” said coach Brian Lee. “When you consider that we’re starting six of our freshmen up the spine of our team, not really playing our best today, but still coming back with a win from this weekend, it is very exciting for our young team.
“We come away from here with a lot of enthusiasm knowing that we played close with one of the best teams in the country, but still knowing we could have played so much better. That’s what we’re working toward.”
LSU goalkeeper Lily Alfeld was called into action just two minutes into the match with Duke in the attack as midfielder Christina Gibbons played striker Imani Dorsey through on goal for a one-time strike from just inside the penalty spot, but the New Zealand international made a diving stop to her right to deny Dorsey as the ball was cleared away by the Tiger defense.
The Tigers threatened the Duke goal for the first time on 16 minutes with All-SEC striker Summer Clarke attacking down the right side. After holding up Clarke’s square pass beyond the area, striker Jorian Baucom laid it off to a charging Natalia Gomez-Junco from midfield for a one-time strike that was deflected by one of Duke’s central defenders to All-SEC midfielder Emma Fletcher in the left side of the area.
Clarke skied high at the far post to head Fletcher’s cross over the head of Duke goalkeeper Ali Kershner, but her attempt was fired just wide right of the frame and out of play for a Blue Devil goal kick.
After making a series of substitutions late in the first half, Colas came on to give Duke a 1-0 lead with just over five minutes to play before the referee blew his halftime whistle. Colas chipped home from 14 yards out in front of goal to open her account with her first goal of the season at the 39:42 mark of the first half. Rebecca Quinn was credited with an assist on Colas’ breakthrough.
The Blue Devils popped up with their first opportunity of the second half just five minutes from the restart on a give-and-go into the box between Dorsey and midfielder Toni Payne as Payne played Dorsey in space for a shot from a difficult angle at close range that was met by Alfeld covering the near post.
Midfielder Kelly Cobb gave the Blue Devils their best opportunity to double their advantage in the 72nd minute when she found herself on a breakaway with only Alfeld standing between her and Duke’s second goal of the match. Alfeld was decisive in racing off her line to cut off Cobb’s angle on goal and made a sprawling save to deny the Blue Devil midfielder and keep the Tigers within a goal of the home side.
Alfeld was outstanding as she made a career-high nine saves while in just her eighth collegiate start for the Tigers, and was instrumental in helping to organize LSU’s young defense throughout the match.
The Tigers threatened to equalize in the second half as they first nearly took advantage of a Blue Devil turnover in midfield with Baucom joining All-SEC left back Megan Lee in providing a spark offensively. After gaining possession inside the Duke half, Lee raced towards goal and laid the ball off to Baucom racing into the right side of the area for a strike that was poked away by goalkeeper EJ Proctor in the 57th minute.
The visitors nearly equalized again just 14 minutes from time when a set piece taken from the right side was flicked by Clarke into the middle of the area and fellow striker Lexi Gibbs sprinted on for a one-timer put just over the crossbar. That attack sparked a reaction from the LSU supporters in attendance as chants of “L-S-U!, L-S-U!” could be heard for the remainder of the match.
Midfielder Natalia Gomez-Junco had three shot attempts to lead the Tigers on the afternoon, while Baucom, Clarke, Fletcher, Gibbs and Lee each attempting one shot to join in the attack.
After kicking off their four-game road swing this weekend with trips to Provo, Utah, on Thursday night and Durham, North Carolina, on Sunday afternoon, the Tigers will head back on the road next weekend as they’re set to open up Southeastern Conference play on Friday with a match against the Missouri Tigers that is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT at Audrey J. Walton Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.
LSU will then wrap up its non-conference slate on Sunday, Sept. 21, with a trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to face the Marquette Golden Eagles with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. at Marquette’s Valley Fields.