Duke Edged 2-1 By Wake Forest In Home Opener

Saturday, September 10

Durham, N.C.

1 p.m.

Duke University

Wake Forest

Duke Edged 2-1 By Wake Forest In Home Opener

9/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? Despite a dominant first-half performance, the Duke field hockey team suffered its first loss of the season to Wake Forest Saturday at Williams Field. Junior Amy Stopford scored the lone goal for the Blue Devils in the 2-1 decision.

Junior Cara-Lynn Lopresti and sophomore Shayna McGeehan led Duke in an impressive defense in the first half, keeping the ball outside the scoring arc for much of the period. The Blue Devils held their opponent to four shots, none of which were converted. The first goal came from Stopford 15 minutes into the game on a rebound from her own shot. Wake Forest couldn't answer for the next 20 minutes, giving Duke a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.

The second half proved to be more challenging with Wake Forest out-shooting Duke 11-3. The Demon Deacons' Haley Scott netted two goals, one a minute into the half and the other with 12 minutes left in the game. The Blue Devils had a couple of good looks but were unable to score, and two penalty corners in the last minute of play kept Duke from gaining control of the ball in an attempt to tie the game.

“It was a game of two halves,” said head coach Beth Bozman. “I thought we played and executed very well in the first half, but we didn't stick to our game plan as well in the second half. You have to be able to do that to win.”

Sophomore Caitlin Williams played the whole game in goal, recording nine saves on Wake Forest's 15 shots, bringing her season save total to 26. Kristina Gagliardi tended the goal for the Demon Deacons, stopping four of Duke's nine shots.

Duke is now 4-1 in the 2005 campaign. The Blue Devils return to Williams Field for two games next weekend, when they host Iowa Saturday at 1 p.m. and Old Dominion Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Senior Katie Grant and juniors Lopresti, Hilary Linton and Amy Stopford will miss the games as they will be competing at the Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile.