August 14, 2010

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Duke's Marybeth Kreger found the back of the net in the 78th minute and the Blue Devils made the goal stand as UNCG fell 1-0 in its final exhibition tune-up before starting the regular season. 

Jenn Partenheimer led UNCG with five shots. Kelsey Kearney had seven saves in 76 minutes in goal. 

With the teams locked in a scoreless draw, Duke finally got on the board at the 77:54 mark. Kreger picked up a loose ball near the top of the 18-yard box and fired a shot that beat UNCG keeper Alex Perry top shelf. 

The Spartans put six of their eight shots on the night on frame, but could never find the back of the net.

Partenheimer had perhaps UNCG's best scoring chance of the night with 36 minutes left, as Katie Durst found her mid-stride with a perfectly placed pass into the box. Partenheimer got off a shot from close range, but Duke keeper Emily Nahas made the near-post stop to keep the game scoreless at that point. 

The Blue Devils had just missed drawing first blood moments earlier, but Callie Simpkins' shot went just wide after she beat Kearney one-on-one on a breakaway.

Click here to see coach Eddie Radwanski's postgame comments.

Kearney made a phenomenal save in the 60^th minute, diving to her right to knock away Carey Goodman's close-range attempt. 

All five of Partenheimer's shots on the night were on frame, but Duke's three keepers, Tara Campbell, Meghan Thomas and Nahas, were there to stop every one. 

Campbell, who worked the first half, had four saves, while Thomas and Nahas had one each. 

Sophomore Tabitha Padgett, the Southern Conference's reigning freshman of the year and co-player of the year, had UNCG's other shot on goal, as her attempt in the 96^th minute was saved by Thomas. 

The teams agreed prior to the game that they would play a 15-minute overtime, regardless of the score at the end of regulation. 

Just like in Wednesday's win over High Point, UNCG substituted liberally, with 21 players seeing action. Duke did the same, with 24 Blue Devils getting playing time in the final preseason contest for both teams.

The four-time defending SoCon regular-season champion, UNCG begins its quest for a fifth straight when it opens regular-season play on Friday, Aug. 20, against East Carolina at 7 p.m. at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.

AGATE
Duke 1, UNCG 0 (OT)

Goals by period            1          2          OT        Tot
Duke     0          1          0          1
UNCG   0          0          0          0

SCORING SUMMARY:
1          77:54    DUKE   Marybeth Kreger (unassisted) - Top shelf from about 18 out

Shots: Duke 19, UNCG 8
Saves: Duke 6 (Tara Campbell 4; Emily Nahas 1; Meghan Thomas 1), UNCG 8 (Kelsey Kearney 7; Alex Perry 1)
Corner kicks: Duke 10, UNCG 1
Fouls: Duke 4, UNCG 10

- UNCG -