Women’s Soccer Downs No. 2 Duke In 4-2 Thriller

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- In the 58th edition of the Tobacco Road rivalry between No. 7 North Carolina women's soccer and No. 2 Duke, the Tar Heels overcame a 2-1 deficit in the second half to go on and earn a 4-2 victory Thursday night from Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium. Carolina is now 5-1 at home and 8-1 this season, and the Tar Heels earned their first ranked win of the fall. The victory over Duke in Chapel Hill is the first since 2020. HOW IT HAPPENED Carolina pressured the Blue Devils' backline early with an 8th-minute shot from Amari Manning, who won the ball in midfield, carried it into the final third, and missed wide left.

Bella Devey and Deus Stanislaus helped create chances for one another in the 20th and 23rd minutes, adding to the Tar Heel energy. Minutes later, Riley Kennedy won the ball in the attacking third. The ball was played to Devey, whose shot was blocked by the Duke goalie. Stanislaus attempted to get the rebound, but missed the follow-up wide left of the goal.

Another chance came for the Tar Heels in the 29th minute, when first-time starter Wylie Roossien carried the ball down the right touchline and crossed it into the Duke 18-yard box. Although no Tar Heel could get on the end of the cross, the chance highlighted Carolina's persistent attack in the first half.

Senior Lilliah Blum found the back of the net for Carolina in the 31st minute, slotting the ball just past the Duke goalkeeper and scoring her third goal of the season to go up 1-0. Blum's shot marked Carolina's 14thunassisted goal of the season.

Just a minute later, Blum drew a foul just outside of Duke's 18-yard box, earning Duke a yellow card and giving the Tar Heels an opportunity to get a second goal on the score sheet. Manning's free kick set up Bella Gaetino, who was ultimately picked off by the Duke goalkeeper.

Peyton Trayer saved Duke's first shot of the game in the 36th minute. The freshman has been an essential part of Carolina's lineup this year, starting every game for the Tar Heels.

Ashley Pennie looked to add a Carolina goal in the 40th minute after a missed chance from Devey, but her shot was denied by Duke.

In the 42nd minute, a scrap in Carolina's 18-yard box allowed Duke's first goal of the night. The goal was reviewed for a potential handball, but the call was confirmed.

Manning looked to net a goal before the end of the first half, but her 45th minute shot was placed wide on the left of the goal. The Tar Heels and Blue Devils remained locked at one going into halftime.

Just four minutes into the second half, Cali O'Neill was called for a handball in the Carolina box. Duke was awarded a penalty kick and scored, despite Trayer attempting to make the save on the correct side of the goal.

Manning set up Devey for another chance in the 57th minute, but Devey collided with the Duke goalkeeper and couldn't finish. The pair would go on to combine for five of Carolina's nine shots on the night.

Roossien continued to make an impact for Carolina, finding Devey, whose shot went wide of the goalpost in the 60thminute. Roossien played a career-high 81 minutes in place of Summer Denigan, who was out with an injury.

Devey would pick up a yellow card in the 67th minute after colliding with the Duke goalkeeper in the Blue Devils' 18-yard box. Duke challenged the call, arguing that Devey should have been awarded a red card, but the call on the field was confirmed following a lengthy review.

Blum got back on the score sheet in the 71st minute with an assist coming from Shaela Bradley as Carolina evened the score at 2-2. The goal marked Blum's first career brace and fourth goal of the season. Shaela Bradley also picked up her first assist in her time as a Tar Heel.

Izzi Stratton got in on the fun in the 74th minute, with pressure mounting on both sides of the ball. A Tar Heel corner was headed by Stratton off the woodwork of Duke's goal and ended up falling back at her feet. Stratton poked it in past Duke's defenders for her second goal of the season as the Tar Heels retook control, 3-2.

In the same minute, Trayer recorded her second save of the night, extending across the goal to block a Duke shot.

Bradley tacked on the fourth and final goal of the night with a rocket from just inside Duke's 18-yard box. The goal is Bradley's first of the season and second as a Tar Heel. Blum picked up the assist, her second of the season to cement a 4-2 North Carolina victory over the Blue Devils.

Carolina takes on Alcorn State Sunday afternoon at Dorrance Field at Play2Dream Legacy Stadium at 1 p.m. ET. Action against the Braves can be caught on ACC Network Extra.

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