By: Andrew Diveley 

The ninth seeded Duke Blue Devils defeated fifth seeded Maryland, 1-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. 

Senior midfielder Kira Curland scored Duke’s game winning goal in the third quarter, reminiscent of the pair’s first meeting earlier this season — when the Blue Devils defeated the Terps, 1-0, on a goal by Josephine Palde in the third quarter. 

The match started as a defensive battle. 

Duke earned a penalty corner just over a minute in, but Maryland’s defense blocked Macy Szukics’ shot. Alaina McVeigh had a good scoring oppurtunity in the 18th minute, but her shot was saved by Maryland goalkeeper Alyssa Klebasko.

Maryland struggled to create scoring chances in the first half. 

The Terps earned no penalty corners before halftime and failed to put a single shot on goal.

Duke finally broke through in the third quarter on Curland’s score. 

Curland chipped the ball over Maryland’s defenders on a penalty corner and batted it into the net. The goal — assisted by Palde — was Curland’s third of the season. 

Maryland fought back in the fourth quarter. 

The Terps earned a penalty corner in the 52nd minute giving Hope Rose a chance to even the score. However, Duke goalkeeper Frederique Wollaert denied the effort with a critical save.

Maryland pulled Klebasko from the cage in the 55th minute to add an extra attacker, but Duke’s defense held firm. Wollaert stopped Kylee Niswonger’s attempt at an equalizer, finishing the game with three saves.

The Blue Devils dominated all the key statistical categories, earning six penalty corners to Maryland’s two and limiting the Terps to three shots on goal.

Duke’s win ends Maryland’s season earlier than many would have predicted, while the Blue Devils move on to face unbeaten North Carolina in the next round.