Upcoming Event: Field Hockey at VCU on September 28, 2025 at 1 p.m.
/
1 p.m.
Field Hockey
at VCU
Friday, September 11
Durham, N.C.
6:00 PM
Duke University
1
vs
2
Wake Forest
Late Rally Falls Short in 2-1 Loss to Wake Forest
9/11/2015 9:07:00 PM | Field Hockey
DURHAM, N.C. – Junior midfielder Hunter Bracale provided a late spark for the Blue Devils but the squad could not complete the comeback attempt in a 2-1 loss to No. 12 Wake Forest Friday in the teams' ACC opener. Duke, ranked fourth nationally entering the home opener at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium, dropped to 3-2 on the season.
“We just came out really flat, and I'm disappointed in that and I know the team is extremely disappointed in it," said head coach Pam Bustin. “With the home opener, the energy was high, but I think our focus was a little scattered … We've got to come out strong and we've got to make some changes individually, but it affects the collective effort.”
Duke's defense withstood early attacking pressure from the Demon Deacons but kept a clean first-half slate for the fifth time in as many games. Both sides had opportunities with two penalty corners apiece in the first 35 minutes. However, the match remained scoreless at the half.
The Blue Devils opened the second period by placing two shots on cage, but Wake Forest defender Shannon Eby stepped in for a defensive save on the first offering and goalkeeper Valerie Dahmen made a stop on the second. The Demon Deacons went on to capitalize on a corner, as Madi Julius tipped in a low drag by Jule Grashoff in the 44th minute.
Trailing for the first time on the season, Duke was unable to take advantage of a corner opportunity on its own end a few minutes later. Wake Forest drew a corner and went up by two with 16 minutes remaining when Eby played in a ball from Megan Anderson in front of the cage.
“We didn't really capitalize in moments,” Bustin said. “It's almost like we were trying too hard in moments where we need to trust our skill and trust what we have the capability of doing and allow the game to play. It got a little tense in there.”
The Blue Devils picked up activity on the offensive end in response to the 2-0 deficit, and the effort paid off in the 63rd minute when Bracale put away a pass from sophomore Ashley Kristen for her second goal of the year. Duke continued to press forward and just missed on a rebound shot with less than five minutes remaining. Momentum shifted a short while later when the Demon Deacons generated a final penalty corner, and despite the Blue Devils pulling redshirt senior Lauren Blazing from the cage with 1:20 left on the clock, the team was unable to break through in the waning seconds.
Duke led in shots behind the late push, 14-9, but earned only four corners to seven by Wake Forest.
Dahmen finished with seven saves for the Demon Deacons while Blazing had two. Bracale added a defensive save in the second half.
The Blue Devils will look to rebound Sunday when they host non-conference foe William & Mary at 1 p.m. at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium. The contest will be broadcast live on Blue Devil Network Plus.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
What It’s Like to Be a Blue Devil
Friday, June 13
End of Year Recap
Friday, December 13
CoachBustin Postgame: North Carolina
Sunday, November 17
Coach Bustin & Frederique Wollaert Postgame: Maryland
Friday, November 15
