Bulldogs Drop Season Opener 5-0 to Duke

Friday, August 21

Chapel Hill, N.C.

2:00 PM

Fresno State

0-1

Duke

1-0

Fresno State

Duke

Bulldogs Drop Season Opener 5-0 to Duke

8/21/2015 1:28:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

Fresno State Soccer opens season with a 5-0 loss to the Blue Devils in the Carolina Nike Classic.

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Fresno State (0-1-0) lost to Duke (1-0-0) on Friday afternoon 5-0 at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C., as part of the Carolina Nike Classic in their first action of the 2015 season. This was the first-ever meeting between the schools.

"It was certainly exciting to start again and I know that the team was eager to play and excited for this road trip," Fresno State head coach Brian Zwaschka said. "We just need to stay focused on our long-term objectives and learn from the match today."
The Blue Devils, who are receiving votes in the preseason National Soccer Coaches' Association of America poll, put pressure on the Bulldogs' defense early, with four shots in the first five minutes by four different players, and outshot Fresno State 19-5 in the first half with seven on goal. Bulldog freshman goalkeeper Nicole Theroux was kept busy and recorded four saves in the first half.

Duke freshman Taylor Racioppi scored the first goal of the match in the 17^th minute after grabbing a loose ball and finishing from the left side of the box. Freshman Kayla McCoy scored in the 29^th minute in a one-on-one situation with Theroux after a long feed down the field from Christina Gibbons. Sophomore Casey Martinez scored the third goal of the match for Duke in the 34^th minute from the top of the box after receiving a dish from Danielle Duhl.

Theroux was replaced at halftime by fellow freshman Marie Berwinkel-Kottmann, who recorded three saves for the 'Dogs.

In the second half, Racioppi knocked in the fourth goal for Duke in the 55^th minute after dribbling through the Bulldog defense and scoring from six yards out. Imani Dorsey then scored the fifth Blue Devil goal in the 69^th minute after a sequence of passes from Toni Payne and Ashton Miller, finishing in the front.

Duke outshot Fresno State 35-8 in the match and the Bulldogs recorded one shot on goal by sophomore midfielder Carly Bracken.

"It was definitely a learning experience," Bracken said. "I think we need to be more aggressive offensively, have better communication and put more pressure on our opponent."

Zwaschka believes the challenging opponents in non-conference play will help solidify the roster and bring the best out of the players. The 'Dogs will face No. 7 North Carolina (1-0-0) on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT. North Carolina beat Weber State 3-0 in their match on Friday.

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