Field Hockey Headed Back to NCAA Semifinals

Sunday, November 15

Charlottesville, Va.

2:00 PM

Duke University

Virginia (Quarterfinals)

Field Hockey Headed Back to NCAA Semifinals

11/15/2015 4:59:00 PM | Field Hockey

By: Duke Sports Information

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Duke field hockey program is headed to Ann Arbor, securing its sixth trip to the NCAA semifinals with a 2-1 victory over third-seeded Virginia Sunday at the Cavaliers' University Hall Turf Field.

The sixth-ranked Blue Devils (14-6) advance to a national semifinals meeting with No. 2 seed North Carolina (20-2) Friday, Nov. 20 at 2:45 p.m. at Michigan's Phyllis Ocker Field.

After dropping high-scoring affairs to the Cavaliers during the regular season and in last week's ACC Tournament, Duke turned in one of its best defensive performances on the season in Sunday's quarterfinal match.

“I'm extremely proud of this group for, in 10 days, coming together, rechecking our focus, rechecking our team connection and cohesiveness and bringing it to the field,” said head coach Pam Bustin. “All the work that they've done to build the culture of this team over the last five years is what showed over the weekend here in Charlottesville. I'm so proud of the seniors' leadership and for them stepping up in these big games. They trusted that and they led the rest to a great game today against a really talented and dangerous Virginia team.”

The Blue Devils struck first in the ninth minute, connecting a string of passes down the field before breaking inside the circle. Junior Heather Morris capitalized on a chaotic situation in front of the cage to tap in a pass from senior Sarah Urdahl for her team-leading 11th goal of the season.

Virginia evened the score two minutes later, as a fastbreak set up Caleigh Foust to get past the Duke defense.

Despite the answer from the Cavaliers, the Blue Devils continued to apply pressure on the attacking end, earning several more chances inside the circle. After the backline weathered a couple more Virginia possessions, Duke regained the lead on a corner opportunity late in the half. Sophomore Alyssa Chillano took the ball on the wing and senior Amanda Kim tipped it into the back of the cage to give the Blue Devils the 2-1 advantage at the intermission.

The Cavaliers challenged Duke's defensive unit in the early part of the second period before both teams had chances on penalty corners. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Lauren Blazing made three of her four stops on the afternoon in the final 35 minutes, including a key glove save inside the final eight minutes.

“The defense was absolutely outstanding,” Bustin said. “They stayed in it. They played together … I thought together our team defense was outstanding, from the forward lines playing good lines and putting pressure from behind to our backfield just keeping it simple and stepping up for interceptions. And then, of course, Lauren Blazing had some key, key saves in critical moments.”

Virginia tried to press forward with time waning, but the Blue Devils' defense held steady and regained possession, keeping the Cavaliers off the board to preserve the victory.

“This has been our goal since January,” Kim said. “Since we were done with the season and we started training in the spring, we always had that in mind. We knew with a new crew coming in as freshmen, we were going to just take one game at a time and that's exactly what we did today. They did a great job, but we came out and we played Duke field hockey this time.”

Duke placed nine of its 12 shots on goal while holding Virginia scoreless on eight second-half shots.

Rebecca Holden totaled seven saves for the Cavaliers in the loss. Virginia finished its 2015 campaign with a final record of 15-6.

Following a one-goal contest between Duke and North Carolina during the regular season, the teams will square off in the second of two semifinals Friday in Ann Arbor. The Tar Heels downed Boston University 4-2 in the first round in Chapel Hill and defeated Michigan, 1-0, in the quarterfinals to advance.

Top seed Syracuse and fourth-seeded Connecticut will meet in the first semifinal Friday at noon.

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