Duke Picks Up ACC Win Over Wake Forest, 1-0

Saturday, September 10

Durham, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Wake Forest

Duke Picks Up ACC Win Over Wake Forest, 1-0

9/10/2011 3:49:00 PM | Field Hockey

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - Junior Devon Gagliardi registered her fourth goal of the season and the Blue Devils' defense picked up its second straight shutout as the ninth-ranked Duke field hockey earned a hard-fought, 1-0 victory over ACC rival and 20^th-ranked Wake Forest Saturday afternoon from Williams Field.

Duke improves to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the ACC with the win, while Wake Forest drops to 1-4 on the year and 0-1 in the conference.

The Blue Devils controlled most of the game, limiting Wake Forest to just four shots while firing 14 of their own. Duke goalkeeper Samantha Nelson was mostly untested, but made a save late on a penalty corner deflection to preserve the shutout, her 14^th as a Blue Devil.

"They were doing a fall back press," said Gagliardi, who is tied for the team lead with four goals this season. "It slowed down the game, but I think our defense did awesome coming out of it. We knew Wake, they're a great team, and we knew it was going to be a tough game. We just came out and played Duke hockey."

The two teams battled through a scoreless first half with Duke's best opportunity coming late in the opening frame. Duke's midfield moved the ball up on a fast break to an open Caashia Karringten. Karringten moved towards the goal, but Wake Forest's goalie charged out of the cage to make the diving save.

In the 39^th minute, the Blue Devils' offense broke through with the lone goal of the game. Duke drew a penalty corner and the Blue Devils fired two shots before Gagliardi gathered the rebound and tapped it into the cage.

"It was a deflect," said Gagliardi. "And Emmie [Le Marchand] ran out received it and took a shot. It was a great shot, far post, and I was wide open and stopped it and pushed it in."

"It was a great corner," added head coach Pam Bustin. "We've been working on making sure that we're in rebound position and keeping the balance in the circle to make sure we have people in high rebound and high percentage spots. Devon was there today and her hands were beautiful. She just knocked it and turned her wrists and hit it into the goal cage.

Duke's defense continued to thwart the Demon Deacons' attack, and found itself tested playing a man-down late in the half following a yellow card, but the Blue Devils clamped down and did not allow Wake Forest the equalizer.

"We know that Wake has a dangerous attack," said Bustin. "They like to surprise you. They shift you in the midfield and hit the big ball to some very feisty and fast forwards. Our structure was the key today. We had to constantly monitor the angles that we were covering and to constantly monitoring the space and depth."

Next up, the Blue Devils face Longwood Sunday, Sept. 11 at 1 p.m., from Williams Field. Live video, stats and blog will be available through GoDuke.com

-d-u-k-e-