Second Half Rally Pushes Duke Past Deacs, 2-1

Friday, October 14

Winston-Salem, N.C.

6:00 PM

Duke University

Wake Forest

Second Half Rally Pushes Duke Past Deacs, 2-1

10/14/2016 9:50:00 PM | Field Hockey

Season Statistics Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Senior midfielder Robin Blazing fired a go-ahead goal with 2:46 remaining to lift fourth-ranked Duke over No. 17 Wake Forest, 2-1, Friday evening at the Demon Deacons' Kentner Stadium.

Blazing helped the Blue Devils complete the rally after the squad surrendered a goal to the Demon Deacons late in the first half. With the win, head coach Pam Bustin's team improved to 12-2 overall and 4-1 in ACC action.

“A positive from tonight is just to continue to build on our composure,” Bustin said. “The team was on the verge of getting caught up in some of the craziness, but we brought it back to the fundamentals. I'm really proud of them for that. And if we can play fundamental hockey, we're going to be playing some pretty good field hockey. The spark was important, and we turned it on really when we needed to. We didn't have to wait that long – we could have finished our opportunities early, but that's the game.”

Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Sammi Steele and the Duke defense were tested at the beginning of the second half, as the Deacons (6-6, 0-5 ACC) drew three corners in the first 15 minutes.

“Our corner defense unit is good,” Bustin said. “So thank goodness, if that's going to happen, then we can have a good corner defense unit. They pulled through and they kept it simple – they didn't panic. They just did their job and gave us enough time and kept the score the way it was so that our offensive side could finish it and take care of what they had to take care of.”

The Blue Devils made quick work to capitalize on the other end when junior Ashley Kristen sent a ball from the left corner in to a diving Rose Tynan. Tynan sent the ball into the back of the cage to knot the contest at 1-1 in the 56th minute.

“It was a beautiful goal,” Bustin said of Tynan's score. “Not only just needing a goal to tie it up and get us at even, that was important, but I think it was a really exciting goal. Those guys worked really hard to get that ball down there and Rose just found a way to put it in.”

Tynan's tally provided a spark for the Blue Devils, who continued to push forward. The teams swapped corner attempts in the final five minutes, with Duke capitalizing at the 67:14 mark. Blazing remained composed despite a mishandle on the stick stop, launching the ball past the Wake Forest defense for the go-ahead goal.

The Demon Deacons pulled goalkeeper Cat O'Connor from the cage in response to Blazing's goal, but were held without a shot the rest of the way.

The Blue Devils were active below the 25 in the opening minutes but neither side was able to score on early penalty corner attempts. Duke pressured on its attacking end, generating multiple opportunities in front of the cage. The squad led the Demon Deacons in shots through the remainder of the period, but it was Wake Forest that would break through first. Emily Adamson put back her own rebound in the final minute to send Duke into the intermission trailing for just the second time on the season.

For the contest, the Blue Devils held a 12-8 advantage in shots while the Demon Deacons led in corners, 6-5. Steele totaled four saves to seven by O'Connor of Wake Forest.

Graduate student Aisling Naughton and junior Alyssa Chillano paced all players in the contest with three shots each.

Duke rounds out its road swing Sunday at No. 19 Old Dominion. The 1 p.m. non-conference matchup will be streamed on ODUSports.com.

#GoDuke