Blue Devils Overcome JMU, 3-2, on Senior Day

Sunday, October 19

Durham, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

James Madison

Blue Devils Overcome JMU, 3-2, on Senior Day

10/19/2014 3:56:00 PM | Field Hockey

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Freshman forward Ashley Kristen knocked in a cross from teammate Jessica Buttinger with less than five minutes remaining in regulation to guide eighth-ranked Duke to a 3-2 victory over James Madison Sunday afternoon. The Blue Devils came out on top in their regular season home finale at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium, improving to 11-4 on the season.

“I'm so proud of the team for staying with a tough game and continuing to create opportunities,” said head coach Pam Bustin. “Once we start finishing, it's a different game. I'm proud of the resilience today, I'm proud of how we stayed together as a team and I'm really proud of, especially the second half, we honored our seniors with some hard play.”

With James Madison leading 2-1 near the end of the first period, junior midfielder Aileen Johnson put a powerful reverse in the cage on a feed from Buttinger to even up the score before halftime. The goal marked Johnson's fifth of the season, moving her season points total to 14.

Duke drew a penalty corner just a few minutes into the second period and continued to control possession from there. On another corner opportunity with 13 minutes to go in the contest, senior midfielder Abby Beltrani had a dangerous look at the goal, firing over a diving Hannah George in the Dukes' cage, but had her shot cleared by defender Dana Allaband.

James Madison had an opportunity of its own on a corner situation inside the final 10 minutes, but saw two shots get turned away by Blue Devil goalkeeper Lauren Blazing. Kristen was able to finish on a high cross from Buttinger just over five minutes later, regaining the lead for Duke. The home squad weathered a final corner by James Madison in the last two minutes to secure the 3-2 win.

Goalkeepers George and Blazing each had great glove saves at the beginning of the contest before the Dukes recorded the first goal six minutes in when Danni Wilson converted on a pass from teammate Taylor West. The Blue Devils earned the equalizer a short while later on their first attack corner, as sophomore Hunter Bracale put back a rebound off a pair of blocked shots. James Madison utilized a penalty corner play to respond at the 16:03 mark, with Loes Stijntjes scoring off the hit and teammates Adrienne Le Vatte and Saskia Chelmowski assisting.

“They caught us in a moment when we let our guard down, and that's something you just can't let happen,” Bustin said. “We're getting better at it, but good teams will still find it when you don't do it. I think second half we definitely shored it up and battened it down a little bit better.”

Buttinger tallied two assists on the day and Blazing added three saves against seven shots by the Dukes. George had eight saves for James Madison against 21 Blue Devil shots.

At the conclusion of the contest, Duke honored the team's three seniors – Beltrani, Buttinger and Martine Chichizola – who have guided the program to a 49-30 record and great postseason success over the past four seasons.

“Jess, Abby and Martine have been a big part of our success over the past four years,” Bustin said. “They're pretty special and big parts of who we are.”

The Blue Devils will take road trips to Syracuse Oct. 25 and Richmond Nov. 1 before hosting the 2014 ACC Field Hockey Championship at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium Nov. 6, 7 and 9.

#GoDuke