Blue Devils Outlast Northwestern in Double OT, 2-1

Friday, September 6

Evanston, Ill.

4:30 PM

Duke University

(3-0)

Northwestern

(2-2)

Duke

Northwestern

Leah Crouse

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Blue Devils Outlast Northwestern in Double OT, 2-1

9/6/2019 7:33:00 PM | Field Hockey

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Duke Opens B1G/ACC Cup Play with Double OT Win

By: Duke Sports Information

EVANSTON, Ill. – Sophomore Leah Crouse tipped in a ball from teammate Margaux Paolino late in a second overtime period to push third-ranked Duke past 15th-ranked Northwestern, 2-1, Friday in a thrilling B1G/ACC Cup matchup. The Blue Devils defeated their third ranked foe in as many contests to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Head coach Pam Bustin's squad picked up right where it left off in a 2-0 opening weekend, holding the Wildcats to just two shots and zero penalty corner opportunities in another impressive defensive effort.

After a grueling 70 minutes in regulation and one scoreless overtime period, Duke built up an attack late in the second overtime. Paolino drove into the left side of the circle and sent a ball over to Crouse at the front of the cage. Crouse tipped it home to seal the 2-1 victory in the 78th minute.

"What we showed as a team and our composure, because it was very physical and that could have shaken us off our game – but the kids just stayed in it," Bustin said. "They stayed together. They kept their composure. And they didn't judge anything – they just kept playing until something went our way. I give a lot of credit to Northwestern. They defended in front of the goal cage as a team, which made it very difficult for us and kept them in the game."

Northwestern struck just 37 seconds into the contest on a Peyton Halsey goal and Duke answered just before the end of the opening quarter as freshman Hannah Miller tallied her second score of the season. Miller drove her way into the circle and maneuvered around a pair of defenders, shooting right to left to knot up the contest.

Neither side was able to record a shot or generate a corner opportunity during the second quarter, preserving the 1-1 tie at halftime.

The Blue Devils earned four consecutive penalty corner attempts in the third quarter, which resulted in three shots that were all turned away by the Northwestern defense and goalkeeper Florien Marcussen. Duke stayed on the offensive, dominating possession in the period, but would head into the final quarter still tied with the Wildcats.

Redshirt senior goalkeeper Sammi Steele made a sliding save on a breakaway by Northwestern midway through the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils continued to knock on the door but headed to overtime for the first time on the season.

A scoreless first overtime period saw Duke record four shots and three corners while holding the Wildcats without a look at the cage. The Blue Devils did not allow a shot in the second overtime period either, and wrapped up the contest with a 15-2 advantage in shots.

"The work from our midfield and backfield together to help the pressers in the front made a difference," Bustin said of the defensive effort. "We were relentless in how we closed the space and how we stayed under the ball. We really put the pressure on them to have to create something."

Duke continues play at the B1G/ACC Cup play Sunday, taking on second-ranked Maryland at 12 p.m. ET on BTN+. Live stats will be available here.

#GoDuke