Sept. 11, 2005

Box Score

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis women's soccer mounted a furious rally in the final five minutes but came up just short in a 2-1 loss to No. 8 Duke this afternoon at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. The Blue Devils (4-0-1) put the Billikens (4-2-0) on their heels early in the second half and held on after junior All-America candidate Courtney Hulcer led sophomore Cassi Winchell to the lone Billiken goal in the 87th minute.

Duke had the better of play in the first half, creating a series of dangerous opportunities. In the 28th minute, senior goalkeepr Amanda Martin turned back a shot from Carolyn Riggs off a corner. The Blue Devils' senior forward persevered, though, and settled the resulting punt and found Sarah McCabe on the right side. Beating a defender, McCabe drove toward the end line and bent a shot inside the far post for a 1-0 Duke lead.

The Billikens' best first-half opportunity came on a deadball from Hulcer in the 33rd minute. Standing just inside the midfield strike, Hulcer launched a high arcing ball that found Caroline Sweeney, but the freshman's flick header went just left of the post.

The Blue Devils' insurance strike came early in the second half off another corner. After Lauren Tippets' serve sailed beyond the far post, the Billikens could not get a good clearance. As Martin attempted to pounce on the loose ball, it slipped away where Christie McDonald poked it in from two yards out.

Winchell's first bid to end the shutout came in the 56th minute after Dee Guempel's one-touch pass led Winchell through a pair of defenders. Her 16-yard shot was punched over the crossbar by Duke keeper Allison Lipsher. The Billiken sophomore finally broke through in the 87th minute. Hulcer settled the ball on the right side and served it over the defenders to Winchell 12 yards out. As the sophomore forward settled the ball, Lipsher came charging out to prevent the shot, but Winchell touched the ball past her and toed it in the resulting open net from four yards.

SLU continued its flurry of offense in the waning moments of the game, but the Blue Devil defense continued to stymie the Bills, allowing just three shots in the half.

The Billikens return to action at Hermann Stadium on Fri., Sept. 16, at 8 p.m. against Duquesne in the second game of the Toys for Tots Tournament. The charity event begins at 5:30 p.m. with Air Force squaring off against Army. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for youth (ages 3-18) with the proceeds going to Toys for Tots. Anyone bringing a new, unwrapped toy will receive free admission to that day's games.