Duke Drops ACC Quarterfinal Matchup to Syracuse in Overtime, 3-2

Thursday, November 5

Chapel Hill, N.C. / Karen Shelton Stadium

7 p.m.

Duke University

(2-7)

Syracuse

(5-3)

Duke

Syracuse

Duke Drops ACC Quarterfinal Matchup to Syracuse in Overtime, 3-2

11/5/2020 10:56:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Duke field hockey's fall season comes to an end as the Blue Devils dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime decision to Syracuse on Thursday night in the ACC Quarterfinals at Karen Shelton Stadium.

The sixth-seeded Blue Devils conclude their fall regular season with a 2-7 overall mark, including a 1-4 record in conference action as the third-seeded Orange (5-3, 3-2 ACC) advance to the semifinals to face two-seeded North Carolina.

"From the beginning of the season to tonight, we've worked on our collective energy, focus, hockey intelligence and connecting together," head coach Pam Bustin said. "We have such great moments, but it's a matter of making it more consistent to sustain the speed and skill of other teams in the ACC."

Bustin's squad posted two early goals, but Syracuse scored three unanswered goals to win in overtime.

What I hope from tonight is that they learn and take from this experience," Bustin said. "It's tough right now, because we had moments to win the game and we defended really well against a dangerous team."

Duke got on the board early in the contest as freshman Alayna Burns tallied her second goal of the season at 1:06 into the contest. After a frenzy in front of the goal, Burns slipped the ball past the Syracuse goalkeeper to put the Blue Devils ahead, 1-0.

Freshman Darcy Bourne scored in the third straight contest, ripping a shot from the top of the circle off a penalty corner in the 10th minute. The goal was assisted by senior Lexi Davidson and freshman Barb Civitella. Civitella's assist notched her first point as a Blue Devil.

Following a rebounded shot off a corner, Duke was initially awarded a penalty stroke in the 12th minute, but a Syracuse review overturned the call, resulting in a corner. Off the set piece, the Blue Devils took two shots and junior Olivia Sahaydak nearly made it a 3-0 game, but her shot was called off.

The Blue Devils limited Syracuse to only one shot in the opening frame. The Orange regrouped in the second period and cut Duke's lead to one at the 20:25 mark with a goal from Laura Graziosi (2-1). Syracuse tied the game at 2-2 in the 36th minute, scoring off a penalty corner.

Duke took two shots on goal in the second half, but a scoreless fourth period forced overtime action. Freshman Piper Hampsch made a huge save in the 62nd minute, giving the Blue Devils the ball. Sophomore Hannah Miller sent a slow roller towards the cage 30 seconds later, but an Orange player made a defensive save to keep the game alive. Over a minute later, Syracuse's Graziosi put away the game-winning shot (3-2).

All 11 of Duke's shots taken in the game were on goal as the Blue Devils were led by graduate student Eva Nunnink with four while Bourne followed closely behind with three. Hampsch made five saves in the contest – the most since earning five against Syracuse on Oct. 10.

Due to COVID-19, the NCAA has approved 2020 fall championships to be played in the spring. At this time, schedules for the spring have not been determined.

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