KENNESAW, Ga. — Teresa Noyola scored from point-blank range Sunday to help top-ranked Stanford beat No. 3 Duke 1-0 and finally give the Cardinal their first NCAA women’s soccer title.
Stanford seniors Noyola, Camille Levin, Kristy Zuhmehlen and Lindsay Taylor finished their college careers with a record of 95-4-4. Their last three losses came in a 2008 national semifinal to Notre Dame, to North Carolina in the ‘09 championship match and to Notre Dame in last year’s final.
Noyola scored in the 53rd minute after Levin won a ball at the goal line about eight yards right of the goal. She crossed to the far post, where Noyola headed it from one yard.
Duke (22-4-1) had several scoring opportunities after that.
Stanford (25-0-1) carried action in the first half with seven shots, three on goal, while Stanford goalkeeper Emily Oliver did not have to make a save on the Blue Devils’ five wild shots.
The Blue Devils outshot Stanford 9-5 in the second half, and although Oliver had to make just two saves, they were both on legitimate chances.
Duke could have gotten a penalty when Stanford’s Kendall Romine tackled Blue Devils forward Mollie Pathman just inside the penalty box in the 70th minute, but there was no whistle.
Laura Weinburg just missed a shot two minutes later for Duke, and forward Kelly Cobb sent a line drive at goal in the 78th minute from about 25 yards only to have Oliver leap and tip it over the cross bar.
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