Duke Advances in NCAAs on Kristen Goal in OT

Saturday, November 14

Charlottesville, Va.

2:00 PM

Duke University

Stanford (First Round)

Duke Advances in NCAAs on Kristen Goal in OT

11/14/2015 5:36:00 PM | Field Hockey

By: Duke Sports Information

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A tip-in goal by sophomore Ashley Kristen in the 84th minute lifted the sixth-ranked Blue Devils over No. 13 Stanford Saturday afternoon in a thrilling NCAA first round contest at Virginia's University Hall Turf Field. Kristen's game winner broke a scoreless tie, advancing Duke (13-6) to a second-round meeting with third-seeded Virginia Sunday at 2 p.m.

“I'm really pleased and impressed with their fortitude throughout the entire game,” said head coach Pam Bustin. “We had so many opportunities – very disappointed in our corner execution and credit to Stanford's defense – but we had our chances. They didn't let that rattle them. We stayed on and kept believing that the pressure we were putting on at some point was going to give us the result.”

Duke came out firing at the start of the second half, as junior Robin Blazing sent in a hard-hit reverse and two more shots off the sticks of Blue Devil players careened off the post. The Cardinal challenged the Duke back line midway through the period, getting the ball in front of the cage, but senior Hannah Barreca made several key tackles to keep Stanford off the board.

The pace of play remained high as the teams approached the end of regulation. The Blue Devils drew a corner inside the final two minutes but were unable to capitalize, and the game was sent into overtime.

Barreca sent a ball into the cage on a penalty corner early in the overtime period, but the shot was ruled high. After redshirt senior goalkeeper Lauren Blazing and junior Hunter Bracale broke up a Stanford opportunity in front of the Duke cage, Heather Morris tried to lift a shot over Cardinal goalkeeper Dulcie Davies but saw it go high.

Stanford then appeared to score on a ball that was thought to be deflected into the cage, but the officials ruled it went untouched, keeping the match at 0-0. On the counter, Duke earned a corner and senior Aileen Johnson directed a feed inside to Kristen, who tapped it in for the deciding goal.

The game winner was the fourth of Kristen's career.

For the contest, the Blue Devils held a 14-6 advantage in shots and led in corners, 10-2.

Lauren Blazing finished with three saves and guided Duke to its fourth shutout while Davies totaled six for the Cardinal in the loss. Stanford concluded its season with a 13-7 record.

“Our defense was well organized today and really played as a unit,” Bustin said. “We kept together as a group and not so individual. I think that's the difference when you're playing a team with some good speed and good skill up front – you have to make sure that the defensive unit stays tight and coordinated.”

The Blue Devils drew three penalty corners inside the first nine minutes but play went back and forth throughout the opening half. Led by a pair of saves from Lauren Blazing, the defensive unit withstood pressure from Stanford's attack, keeping a clean slate through the end of the period.

Duke held a 7-2 advantage in shots during the first 35 minutes and generated four corners to two by the Cardinal.

“It's a one-game tournament,” Bustin said. “We get to advance to a new tournament tomorrow. And I think the mentality of finishing under these conditions, under perceived pressure that's here, it's fun. But kids want it so bad that it can sometimes make them too tight. But they stayed in it and hopefully this loosens them up a little bit.”

Virginia also played an overtime game earlier on Saturday, defeating Delaware, 4-3, on a goal by Riley Tata.

Sunday's second round match between the Blue Devils and the Cavaliers will be streamed on VirginiaSports.com.

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