TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Duke junior goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir, an All-ACC first team selection, recorded seven saves in 2002 ACC Soccer Championship action at the Seminole Soccer Complex. Duke improved to 9-8-2 on the season and advanced to Friday's semifinal against Clemson at 5 p.m. The Cavaliers fell to 11-6-2 with the loss.

"It was a great game," remarked Duke's goalkeeper Thora Helgadottir. "Everything was going our way. Getting that goal was a great thing because we had been struggling with the offense a little bit. But the defense has been playing great and they kept it up today. We did a great job I think."

Duke sophomore forward Lauren Simel's goal at the 26:10 mark of the first half proved to be enough as the Blue Devils recorded just six shots overall, including four in the first half, and just two first half shots on goal. On a pass from freshman as the No. 6-seeded Blue Devils held on for a 1-0 shutout victory over No. 3-seeded Virginia Thursday afternoon Heidi Hollenbeck, Simel scored from behind the Cavalier defense with a shot to the far post. It was Simel's third goal of the season and second game-winning score.

"What a great win for us," stated Duke head coach Robbie Church. "It really is a great win for our program. I thought obviously defensively we worked really hard. Virginia is an outstanding team. They're very attack oriented and very possession oriented. They play a great brand of soccer. We knew we had to change our formations since we played them a few weeks ago and disrupt their rhythm of play. I thought our players did a great job of pressuring the ball. Making them a little bit uncomfortable and putting them in situations they weren't as comfortable as they have been in the past."

Offensively, the Cavaliers had 20 shots overall, including six shots on goal, and had five corner kicks. Prior to the loss, Virginia had won three straight over Duke, including a 2-0 victory back on October 23 in which the Cavaliers held the Blue Devils to just six shots, and a 2-1 overtime win in last year's ACC Championships first round.

"I thought we were very uninspired to be honest," commented Virginia head coach Steve Swanson. "I think Duke played inspired and an inspired team always beats an uninspired team. I give them a lot of credit. They worked hard and played hard. We knew it would be a tough game and it was. This game was very disappointing from our perspective."