Crouse’s OT Goal Lifts Duke Past Liberty, 3-2

Sunday, November 3

Lynchburg, Va.

1:00 PM

Duke University

(13-6)

Liberty

(10-7)

Duke

Liberty

Leah Crouse dribbling past a defender against Ohio.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Crouse’s OT Goal Lifts Duke Past Liberty, 3-2

11/3/2019 3:12:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. –Sophomore Leah Crouse lifted the No. 4 Duke field hockey team to victory with an overtime game-winning goal in a non-conference battle against No. 18 Liberty at Liberty Field Hockey Field Sunday afternoon.

At the 63:57 mark of overtime, Crouse blasted a shot from the right side of the goal and found the left side of the cage for the score, giving Duke the 3-2 overtime victory.

The first quarter saw Duke record three shots and two corners, while redshirt senior goalkeeper Sammi Steele tallied a save in a 0-0 draw at the end of one. Senior Haley Schleicher put the Blue Devils on top early in the second, as she took a corner pass from juniors Lily Posternak and Lexi Davidson and connected with the left side of the cage, making it a 1-0 score.

Liberty tied the game up at 1-1 at the end of the first half, as Daniella Rhodes took a rebound from in front of the goal and scored at the 25:59 mark. The score remained the same going into halftime.

The Flames gained the lead late in the third quarter off a successful penalty corner, as Alivia Klopp tipped the ball in after it hit the right post to put Liberty up, 2-1, with a minute and a half remaining in the third.

With just over three minutes remaining in regulation, Davidson scored her first goal of the season off a penalty stroke, improving Duke's penalty stroke margin to 4-4 on the year. The score remained 2-2 at the end of regulation, and Duke entered overtime for the sixth time in 2019.

Duke ends the regular season with a 13-6 overall mark, as Liberty fell to 10-7 on the year. The overtime victory also improved the Blue Devils' OT record to 3-3 on the year. Duke led 18-7 in shots and 8-2 in corners. Steele notched four saves in a complete game effort.

The Blue Devils next head to Newton, Mass., for the ACC Championship Thursday, Nov. 7. Duke begins tournament play against Virginia at 5 p.m. at the Boston College Field Hockey Field.

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