Duke Falls to Virginia in ACC Tournament, 3-1

Thursday, November 5

Charlottesville, VA

3:30 p.m

Duke University

Virginia

Duke Falls to Virginia in ACC Tournament, 3-1

11/5/2009 6:30:00 PM | Field Hockey

By: Duke Sports Information

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Abby Hassinger scored in the 15th minute of play, but Duke fell to No. 3 Virginia in the first round of the ACC Tournament, 3-1.

"I'm really incredibly proud of this team," head coach Beth Bozman said. "I'm sorry for Lauren Miller and Amie Survilla because of what they have done for the program. They are leaving this program far better than when they came in. I'm proud to have shared it with them."

The Blue Devils (9-10, 0-5 ACC) had its second close match with Virginia in less than a week on the Cavaliers home turf. Both teams had their share of scoring chances, but UVa held the slight edge in shots (11-5) and corners (7-2). Junior goalie Samantha Nelson had three saves for Duke.

Duke controlled the play to begin the half, but Virginia got on the board first when Inga Stockel scored off a corner in the 13th minute. Charlotte van den Broek and Tracie Ragukas combined for the assist. Stockel took a shot from the top of the circle that she launched into the lower-right side of the cage.

The Blue Devils answered right back with a goal by Hassinger at the 15:54 mark. The Dauphin, Pa. native tipped the ball in off a well-struck pass from senior defender Lauren Miller. The goal was Hassinger's third of the year and her first in ACC Tournament play. It was also Miller's sixth assist this season.

Senior forward Amie Survilla had another great chance with 14 minutes left in the first half. Survilla sealed off a pursuing defender and fired a low shot that Cavalier goalie Kim Kastuk just got a pad on.

With only 16 seconds remaining in the half, Virginia score its second goal off another penalty corner. Sophomore midfielder Paige Selenski ripped a shot from the upper-left part of the circle that somehow snuck through the line of Duke defenders and into the corner of the goal. Michelle Vittese recorded the assist on the score for Selenski's 23rd goal of the year.

Coming into the second half down one score, Duke had another good opportunity with 25 minutes left in the game, as sophomore forward Jordan Miller cracked a shot from the right edge of the circle that nicked the side of the cage, but it was wide of the net.

Hassinger made a big defense stop with 18:30 left in the second half, closing off a pass that Selenski delivered across the goalmouth that was dangerously close to the cage. Virginia maintained possession in Duke's defensive third, and earned another corner with 17 minutes left in the half.

On the corner attempt, sophomore midfielder Megan Deakins charged the battery at the top of the cage and stopped the Virginia shot. Deakins had to leave the field but returned to the midfield with 12 minutes remaining.

Virginia had another corner with 15 minutes to play. Selenski had an opportunity from the left side of the circle that Nelson was able to block. It was her third save of the game and kept the score at 2-1.

Virginia scored its final goal with less than 1 minute left off its last penalty corner. Selenski notched her second goal of the game, finding the back of the cage off a shot from the left side of the circle. It was the sixth multi-goal game for Selenski this year.

Including today's contest, the Blue Devils are ranked 10th in the ACR (Average Computer Rating) which accounts for RPI and strength of schedule, but a team with an under .500 record cannot be awarded a NCAA Tournament berth.

"We are a real talented team, it's unfortunate," coach Bozman added. "I keep saying it's the best team we've had in three years but we are not going to the [NCAA] Tournament. We had some unlucky breaks."

ACC Tournament play continues tomorrow with No. 1 Maryland vs. No. 4 Wake Forest at 4 p.m. and No. 2 North Carolina vs. No. 3 Virginia at 6:30 p.m. The final will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on FSN.

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