No. 21 Utah Downed at No. 11 Duke, 2-1

Monday, September 11

Durham, N.C.

5:00 PM

University of Utah

4-2-1

Duke

7-1-0

Utah

Duke

9/11/2017 7:39 PM | Soccer

Box Score Final Box

Utes surrender pair in final 10 minutes

DURHAM, N.C. – No. 21 Utah Soccer was stunned by a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes during a 2-1 loss at No. 11 Duke this evening.

"Our team continues to play with a lot of energy and competitive spirit that will help us during the course of this season," head coach Rich Manning said. "This was a great experience to play a high duality team on the road and we will grow from it."

The Utes grabbed the lead less than five minutes into the second half when Paola van der Veen converted her sixth goal of the season. The junior slid in to beat her defender to a Holly Daugirda cross and popped it past the Duke keeper for a 1-0 lead.

Haylee Cacciacarne started the play and was rewarded with an assist, tying her for the team lead with Daugirda at four apiece.

Van der Veen had the contest's first shot on goal when her free kick was saved in the 41^st minute. Meanwhile, Utah's defense kept Duke from creating any serious chances during the first 45 as the game went to halftime scoreless.

Carly Nelson was finally called into action during the second half, stopping Imani Dorsey's try before Van der Veen opened the scoring.

Van der Veen continued to create havoc in the Duke end when her try was saved off the line just before the hour mark and another try went high. In the 67^th minute, she had an another attempt go wide

Nelson stopped Ashton Miller as Duke started to ratchet up the pressure in the final 15 minutes. It eventually paid off when Kayla McCoy got her head to a cross and pinged in her fifth goal of the season to knot the score.

After the restart, Duke was quick to regain possession and Rebecca Quinn scored her first goal of the season to put the Blue Devils in front.

The last chance of the match fell to the feet of Van der Veen in the 87^th minute, but her free kick sailed wide of goal.

Utah is back home for the first time in three weeks on Friday vs. No. 19 Kansas. The contest closes the non-conference slate and can be seen on the Pac-12 Mountain Network at 7 p.m. It will also be Girl Power Night at Ute Field with headbands and tank tops for fans in attendance.