Second-Ranked Duke Beats Cal, 4-1

Saturday, September 14

Iowa City, Iowa

3:00 PM

Duke University

(5-0)

California

(1-4)

Duke

California

Lily Posternak

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Second-Ranked Duke Beats Cal, 4-1

9/14/2019 4:47:00 PM | Field Hockey

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Blue Devils Remain in Iowa to Face Hawkeyes Sunday

By: Duke Sports Information

IOWA CITY, Iowa – A three-goal second quarter scoring burst helped the second-ranked Blue Devils top California, 4-1, Saturday at Iowa's Grant Field.

Three different players contributed to the high-scoring performance, with junior midfielder Lily Posternak notching a career-best two tallies.

"The first half we came out with the structure and the movement we wanted from the backfield to the forward line," said head coach Pam Bustin. "Had our opportunities and once we adjusted a little bit, we were able to capitalize on our corner play again, which is really positive, and then had some great field goals."

With the win, Duke remained unbeaten at 5-0 entering a top-10 matchup with No. 7 Iowa Sunday.

Duke capitalized on its first penalty corner opportunity of the game, as a drag by senior Haley Schleicher was tipped into the cage by Posternak less than two minutes in. After taking the early lead, the Blue Devils continued to put pressure on Cal's defense, racking up nine more shots. Natalie Dalton made five first-quarter saves in goal for the Bears, but Duke would break through again just under a minute into the second quarter. Posternak deflected in a ball following an initial save by Dalton that put the score at 2-0, Blue Devils.

Duke was not done scoring yet, tacking on two more tallies before halftime. Freshman forward Hannah Miller notched her third goal in five contests and graduate student midfielder Hattie Bevan turned in her first goal in a Blue Devil uniform. Defensively, Bustin's squad surrendered just one shot in the opening two quarters that was stopped by redshirt senior goalkeeper and National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Co-Defensive Player of the Week Sammi Steele.

The Blue Devils allowed a lone shot by Cal in the third quarter and the Bears got on the board inside the final three minutes in regulation on a goal by Megan Rodgers.

"We did a pretty good job of keeping it clean," Bustin said. "Towards the end, we made some substitutions and we weren't as organized in the moment as we wanted to be. Cal is a good team and they took advantage of the moment. It's a good lesson for us. You've got to make sure you stay within your game plan at all points of the game."

For the contest, Duke held a 23-5 advantage in shots, placing 15 of the 23 shots on goal. The Blue Devils also had the upper hand in corners, 4-2.

Dalton totaled 11 saves for the Bears (1-4) in the loss.

The Blue Devils remain in Iowa City Sunday to take on their fourth Big Ten opponent of the season in the seventh-ranked Hawkeyes. Opening passback is set for 2 p.m. ET Sunday on BTN+ ($).

"It was good to play today," Bustin said. "It was important to get back our sharpness from travel and get a game underneath us. I think that was really good. Tonight we're in game mode, so recover and prepare to play the home team tomorrow."

Live stats will also be available for Sunday's contest here.

#GoDuke