Nov. 12, 2010
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The California women's soccer team struck first against Duke on Friday, but could not hang on and lost, 2-1, to the Blue Devils in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Florida's James G. Pressly Stadium.
Sophomore Betsy Hassett scored the first goal of her career in the 45th minute. Duke scored twice in the 72nd minute to tie the match and then pull ahead for good. The Blue Devils (11-7-3) move on to face host Florida in the second round on Sunday while the Golden Bears' season concludes at 9-6-5.
Betsy Hassett scored with eight seconds to go in the first half. Alex Morgan passed the ball to her from the middle with the keeper Tara Campbell creeping out. Hassett tapped it in to the back right lower 90 from eight yards out.
It then took a span of 32 seconds for the Blue Devils to completely unravel the Bears' gameplan.
A Cal foul gave the Blue Devils a free kick, which Ashley Rape. Rape kicked the ball towards Kaitlyn Kerr, who headed it in for her fourth goal of the season with 18:40 on the clock.
Less than a minute later, the Blue Devils followed it right up with another score. Laura Weinberg had the ball on the near side and crossed it into Gilda Doria. Doria, from five yards out, shot it to the back right corner to give Duke its first lead with 18:08 remaining in regulation.
The Bears fired off two shots in the final minutes, but neither found the back of the net.
Cal had four players with two shots each - Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick, Betsy Hassett, Alex Morgan and Danielle Brunache.
The Bears outshot the Blue Devils, 10-8, and took all of the match's four corner kicks.
At the half, the Bears were outshooting the Blue Devils, 7-1.
Emily Kruger played all 90 minutes and made two saves while Duke keeper Tara Campbell made three.
Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick registered the first shot of the game with the freshman midfielder firing high from 30 yards in the sixth minute.
Betsy Hassett's shot at 32:28 missed just wide left, ever so narrowly missing the goal post.
Jesolva tried to fire off a shot but it was immediately blocked out of bounds, giving Cal a corner from the far side. The Duke defense cleared it, but barely for Danielle Brunache and shot, but it went wide.
Kim DeCesare tried to get a shot off but Danielle Brunache blocked it. Lynnea Pappas collected the rebound but it sailed right and out of bounds.
Cal looked promising with 2:07 remaining in the first half, when Alex Morgan, flanked by two Blue Devil defender, missed left.
A foul by Maddy Haller on Alex Morgan gave the Bears a direct free kick, which the team's best striker took. The kick curved right towards the near side, but Campbell stopped it and fell on the ball to prevent a Cal corner kick.
Duke's second shot of the game came with 38:14 to play in the half from Canepa on the near side, with Brunache at her back. Kruger was there to make the incredible diving save. Kruger made her second save of the game when Lester fired off a dribbler from the middle of the box.
Kerr took another shot with 14:22 on the clock, but it went just high, landing on top of the net.
Emily Shibata shot with just under 12 remaining, but Campbell keenly punched it out.
The game brings the Cal playing careers of seniors Megan Jesolva, McKenna McKetty, Alex Morgan and Emily Shibata to a close.
