Field Hockey Falls to Tar Heels in ACC Quarterfinals

Thursday, November 6

Durham, N.C.

1:30 PM

Duke University

North Carolina (ACC Quarterfinal)

Field Hockey Falls to Tar Heels in ACC Quarterfinals

11/6/2014 7:36:00 PM | Field Hockey

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – The seventh-ranked Duke field hockey team saw its run in the 2014 ACC Field Hockey Championship come to an end in heartbreaking fashion, as the Blue Devils dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to top-ranked and second-seeded North Carolina Thursday in the quarterfinals.

The contest was sent into overtime after both sides notched goals in the second half. The Tar Heels' Emily Wold took off on a fast break nine minutes into the overtime period and collided with Duke defender Hannah Barreca in the circle, drawing a controversial penalty stroke that was reviewed by the officials and upheld upon video referral. North Carolina's Nina Notman took the stroke and slid it past Blue Devil goalkeeper Lauren Blazing to seal the 2-1 victory.

Head coach Pam Bustin's squad slipped to 12-6 on the season with the loss and will now await the NCAA Tournament selections, which will be announced Sunday, Nov. 9 at 10 p.m. on NCAA.com.

“I thought we played great against a great team,” Bustin said. “It was a good match. It is unfortunate that that's the way a great game with kids who were fighting their hearts out comes to an end.”

The Blue Devils came out firing in the opening minutes of the contest, with senior Jessica Buttinger and sophomore Heather Morris both putting shots on goal. The squad remained dangerous on the attack throughout the remainder of the half, earning a penalty corner and logging four more looks at the cage, including one that got behind North Carolina goalkeeper Shannon Johnson but was saved by defender Samantha Travers.

The Tar Heels generated opportunities on their offensive end as well, but the period ended with the score still locked at 0-0. Duke led in shots in the first 35 minutes by a slight 6-5 margin.

Freshman forward Ashley Kristen broke the scoreless tie just over four minutes into the second half, finishing a cross from Buttinger at the post to put the Blue Devils ahead. The goal marked Kristen's sixth of the season while Buttinger's assist gave her a team-leading 20 points on the season.

Duke would not hold the lead for long, though, as North Carolina's Emma Bozek tallied the equalizer at the 46:02 mark on a deflection off of a penalty corner play. The Blue Devil defense weathered two more attack penalty corners by the Tar Heels and Duke drew a set piece of its own with time expiring, but freshman Alyssa Chillano's hit on the play was turned away by North Carolina's Shannon Johnson, sending the game to overtime.

For the contest, the Tar Heels led in shots, 11-9, and had a 4-2 advantage in penalty corners. Shannon Johnson had five saves in goal for North Carolina while Blazing posted three at the other end.

The Tar Heels advance to Friday's semifinals where they will face sixth-seeded Syracuse at 3:30 p.m. The other semifinal at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium will see top seed Virginia take on fourth-seeded Wake Forest at 1 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN3.

#GoDuke