Field Hockey Shuts Out Spiders on Senior Day, 6-0

Saturday, October 29

Durham, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Richmond

Field Hockey Shuts Out Spiders on Senior Day, 6-0

10/29/2016 6:13:00 PM | Field Hockey

FH 2016 Senior Day FH vs. Richmond: Duke Ignites for Six Goals Kelsey Wagner Postgame INT: Duke 6, Richmond 0 Pam Bustin Postgame INT: Duke 6, Richmond 0 Robin Blazing Postgame INT: Duke 6, Richmond 0 Senior Day Program Senior Day Photo Gallery Season Statistics Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke field hockey team excelled in its first contest as the nation's top-ranked team, shutting out Richmond, 6-0, on Senior Day Saturday at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium.

Six different Blue Devils registered goals as head coach Pam Bustin's squad rounded out its regular season slate with a 15-2 ledger.

“It's important for us to stay consistent and finish out our regular season the way we've been preparing and playing for each game,” Bustin said. “We got off to kind of a slow start I think, but about 15 minutes in we started picking up our pace and playing our game. I was really pleased with that.”

Duke controlled possession from the pass back and generated several early opportunities on the offensive end before senior midfielder Robin Blazing broke through at the 11:07 mark. Her diving touch on a ball from teammate Alexa Mackintire gave the Blue Devils their first of five goals in the opening half.

Two seniors connected on the next tally eight minutes later when Blazing drove to the right side of the circle and passed inside to midfielder Hunter Bracale. Bracale also had a hand in Duke's third goal, sending a feed through the circle to junior Ashley Kristen, who would finish at the back post to make it 3-0.

Backed by a stifling defensive effort, the Blue Devils continued to penetrate the scoring circle. Sophomore forward Erin Scherrer recorded the first goal of her career in the 28th minute, putting away a pass from Margaux Paolino near the end line. The squad added one more score despite a diving effort by the Richmond defense, with graduate student Aisling Naughton finding the back of the cage following a defensive save by the Spiders' Kasey Gilbride.

Duke's defense held Richmond without a shot in the first 35 minutes.

The Spiders created a potential scoring opportunity minutes into the second period, but Blue Devil goalkeeper Sammi Steele came out of the cage to head off the attack. That set up a final Duke goal on the other end, a Caroline Andretta shot from three yards out that sealed the 6-0 victory.

Steele shared time in cage with senior goalkeeper Kelsey Wagner, and guided the defense to its fifth shutout of the season and second in as many contests. Amanda Hoyt totaled 10 saves in goal for Richmond.

The Blue Devils closed the contest with a 24-1 advantage in shots and drew four penalty corners without surrendering any on the defensive end.

Following the match, Duke honored seniors Blazing, Bracale, Heather Morris, Savannah Story and Wagner, who have led the program to a 59-23 record over the past four seasons. The group has also been a part of two NCAA semifinals appearances, including a trip to the national championship game in 2013.

Graduate students Naughton and Chessie Ruffell were also honored for their contributions since joining the Blue Devil program this season.

“I thank them for coming together four years ago, trusting the program, working together through life and hockey and now, taking pride in what together they have contributed to this program,” Bustin said of her senior class.

With the regular season behind them, Duke now turns toward next week's ACC Championship in Winston-Salem, N.C. As the conference regular season champions, the Blue Devils received the tournament's No. 1 seed and a bye in the first round. The squad will face the winner of a quarterfinal matchup between Louisville and North Carolina Friday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. at Wake Forest's Kentner Stadium. All ACC Championship contests will be broadcast on RSN and the WatchESPN app.

--- NOTES ---

- With her first-half assist, freshman midfielder Margaux Paolino matched former Blue Devil Katie Grant's freshman assists record at 12.

#GoDuke