Duke Posts Third-Straight Shutout at Old Dominion

Friday, September 12

Norfolk, Va.

3:00 PM

Duke University

Old Dominion

Duke Posts Third-Straight Shutout at Old Dominion

9/12/2014 5:09:00 PM | Field Hockey

By: Duke Sports Information

NORFOLK, Va. – The fourth-ranked Duke field hockey team collected its third consecutive shutout victory, easing past No. 17 Old Dominion by a 1-0 score Friday at the Monarchs' L.R. Hill Sports Complex. With the win, the Blue Devils moved to 5-0 on the year for the program's best start to a season since 1987.

Junior Hannah Barreca recorded the game's only goal on a penalty corner opportunity in the 34th minute.

“It was definitely a game of possession and midfield struggle for the first half,” said head coach Pam Bustin. “Our kids just sustained. They didn't get rattled by it and they found ways. The more we were able to sustain it and move it and get a feel of what was happening, we were able to find some solutions to break through.”

The Blue Devils faced early pressure from Old Dominion's attack, getting a kick save from redshirt junior goalkeeper Lauren Blazing on a defensive penalty corner in the second minute of action. Both sides struggled to string passes together in the opening half with neither team asserting itself above the 25-yard lines.

The scoreless battle continued late into the period, with Duke remaining composed on its defensive end against another Old Dominion penalty corner and a couple of deep runs by the home squad.

Duke generated its first offensive penalty corner opportunity at the 2:20 mark and capitalized on a hit by Barreca, who was assisted by seniors Jessica Buttinger and Abby Beltrani. The goal was the first of the season for Barreca and 11th in five games for the Blue Devils.

“We've had a lot of repetition at it and I've been taking a lot of hits, and finally we were able to put it away,” Barreca said of the penalty corner goal. “We just focused in. I tried not to think too much about it and just swing like normal.”

The clock wound down in the first half with Duke holding the 1-0 lead at the intermission. Shots were even at the break with one to each side while Old Dominion had the edge in penalty corners, 2-1.

The Blue Devils came out attacking in the second half and maintained a solid defensive front against three more penalty corners by the Monarchs. Buttinger and freshman Ashley Kristen were active in creating up the left sideline while sophomores Hunter Bracale and Heather Morris both took looks at the cage.

“[At halftime] we talked a lot about our first touch and really just opening up onto the sideline and moving with the ball,” Barreca said. “We were a lot better with it and we were able to penetrate. I think the first half they put a lot of pressure on us and even though we absorbed it, we really put the pressure on them in the second half.”

Old Dominion played with urgency in the waning minutes, searching for the equalizer, but a total-team effort of clearing within and outside the circle propelled Duke to its third shutout in as many contests.

After posting shutout victories over Princeton and Temple last weekend, the Blue Devils have now held their opponents scoreless in 249 consecutive minutes of play.

“Our team is persistent,” Bustin said. “They care about the goal cage, they care about the circle ... I'm really proud of them. It starts from the top. I thought our forwards today did a great job of helping our defensive structure, and that is a great improvement for us as a team, even coming from last year.”

Blazing finished with three saves against six shots by the Monarchs while Old Dominion goalkeeper Megan Hept had one save against four shots by Duke. The Monarchs led in penalty corners for the contest, 6-2.

Up next, Duke kicks off ACC play at 10th-ranked Wake Forest Sunday, Sept. 14 at 1 p.m.

#GoDuke