Strong Second Half Sends Duke Past Delaware, 5-1

Friday, September 25

Durham, N.C.

6:00 PM

Duke University

Delaware

Strong Second Half Sends Duke Past Delaware, 5-1

9/25/2015 9:07:00 PM | Field Hockey

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – The sixth-ranked Blue Devils handed No. 12 Delaware its first loss of the 2015 season, dispatching the Blue Hens by a 5-1 score on a rainy evening at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium. Duke moved to 6-3 on the year with a balanced effort that featured five different goal scorers and four assists.

Defensively, the squad limited a Delaware (8-1) team that entered the night ranked second nationally in scoring to the lone goal.

“It's been the week of practice that we've put in,” said head coach Pam Bustin. “They were really consistent in building our strength today and we finished the game strong. I thought the second half was outstanding. It was a matter of everybody taking their individual ownership and then together, really playing as a team.”

In an opening half that included nine combined penalty corners, the Blue Devils struck first in the 14th minute when leading scorer Heather Morris tapped in a pass from freshman Morgan Bitting at the front of the cage. The tally was Morris' sixth of the season, while Bitting notched the first assist of her career.

Delaware wasted no time in responding, evening the score just over a minute later on a Jacki Coveleski rebound shot. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Lauren Blazing and Emmeline Oltmans of the Blue Hens were both tested over the next few possessions before Duke converted on a corner opportunity to regain the lead. Senior Hannah Barreca registered her second goal of the season on the direct hit with classmates Aileen Johnson and Amanda Kim assisting.

Holding a 2-1 advantage heading into the second period, the Blue Devils were able to add to that lead when junior Hunter Bracale sent a hard strike into the net from just inside the circle. Duke remained on the offensive after neutralizing a pair of Delaware penalty corners, and junior Robin Blazing was able to knock in a rebound at the 61:40 mark that made it 4-1. The goal was Blazing's third of the year.

Sophomore forward Ainsley Gill rounded out the scoring in the 66th minute, finishing at the post on a feed from Johnson at the top of the circle. The Blue Devils' defensive corner unit weathered one final opportunity by the Blue Hens after the horn to secure the 5-1 non-conference victory.

“We kept building momentum and we didn't stop moving,” Bustin said. “We kept the ball moving, we kept opening up the field and making the opponent run side to side. I think that opened up opportunities in the circle, and I thought we were strong to finish in the circle.”

Duke totaled 20 shots on the evening to 12 by Delaware after outshooting the Blue Hens 12-5 in the final 35 minutes. The Blue Devils also held the edge in penalty corners, 8-6, and topped the five-goal mark for the third time on the season.

Lauren Blazing made six stops in goal, while Oltmans recorded eight saves at the other end.

Duke returns to ACC play Friday, Oct. 2 in a 6 p.m. matchup with Louisville at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium. The contest will be streamed live on Blue Devil Network Plus.

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