DURHAM, N.C. - Junior goalkeeper Melanie Raimo came up with nine saves to help the FIU women's soccer team take No. 14 Duke to a double-overtime, scoreless draw on Friday night.
Friday's match is the first time that the Blue Devils, who outscored their last two opponents 14-0, have been held scoreless this season. With the tie, FIU (3-3-1) breaks a four-game losing skid to Duke (4-1-1) dating back to 1993.
"The team just played fantastic," Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt said. "The whole team battled, they fought and they did what we asked of them. We're extremely happy about the way the team played. We were definitely looking to win this game, but Duke has a very strong team this year and they're going to do some very good things, there's no doubt about that.
"Our girls worked their butts off and they were disciplined, and they created opportunities for themselves as well. Whenever you come to a top 20 team like this and you're able to pull a point away, it's a great result."
FIU attempted three shots in the first period, including a shot on goal 35 seconds before halftime when April Perry inserted a corner kick to Linn Thune, but her header was saved by keeper Tara Campbell.
After the break, Raimo kept the game alive with three saves in a 49-second span before the 70-minute mark. The Panthers attacked late as senior captain Mayara da Fonseca Bordin's shot with less than 2:30 to go was saved.
Freshman Chelsea Leiva nearly ended it when she took a ball off her chest, rounded two defenders and let go inside the box, but her shot hit the post three minutes into the extra period. Duke responded with two shots, but Gilda Doria's attempt with less than five minutes remaining went wide, and a minute later, Gretchen Miller's soared high.
The Panthers held tough in the second overtime as Raimo saved Mollie Pathman's shot three minutes in, and the defense blocked Laura Weinberg's attempt 24 seconds later. Duke had one last attempt with 29 seconds remaining in the game, but Raimo saved Natasha Anasi's shot to secure the shutout.
Up next, FIU travels to N.C. State on Sunday, Sept. 12. Game time is 1 p.m.
