No. 24 Duke Blanks Boston University, 3-0

Sunday, October 24

Boston, Mass. / New Balance Field

12 P.M.

Duke University

Boston University

Alayna Burns plays against Louisville in field hockey

Photo by: Duke Athletics

No. 24 Duke Blanks Boston University, 3-0

10/24/2021 3:47:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score BOX SCORE

BOSTON – Three different Blue Devils scored and sophomore Alayna Burns registered a career-high three points as No. 24 Duke blanked Boston University, 3-0, in field hockey to close its regular season slate. The shutout was the second of the year for the Blue Devils.

Duke (6-10) dominated the action overall, outshooting the Terriers 19-3 for the game, including an impressive, 8-1, in the third period. Boston University goalkeeper Caroline Kelly was outstanding in the cage, making 12 saves against the Blue Devils.

Once again, the Blue Devils started fast, getting on the board 1:48 into the game. Rookie Logan Clouser dribbled her way into the right side of the circle and slipped a pass to graduate student MaryKate Neff who took a chance at goal and was able to push it past a screened Kelly who also had Hannah Miller pressuring on the doorstep. It was Neff's fourth goal of the year and Clouser's third assist of the year.

Clouser continued her red-hot streak of registering at least one point in seven of the final eight games of the year.

Duke continued to press against BU (3-14) and earned a penalty corner with 6:10 left in the first quarter. Lily Posternak stepped to the end line to insert and after a miscue on the stop, Burns settled the bouncing ball and pushed it back towards the left post where Posternak was framing the cage for tip across the line and the 2-0 lead. The goal was Posternak's first of the season and Burns' first assist of the campaign.

Defensively, the Blue Devils were organized and stout in the first half, holding the Terriers without a single shot and no penalty corners. Duke, controlling possession throughout the opening 30 minutes, tacked on three more shots in the second quarter, but couldn't not find the back of the cage and headed into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

Duke carried that intensity and momentum into the third quarter as it looked to extend the 2-0 lead, but Terrier keeper Kelly was up to the task as she collected five saves on eight shots and four penalty corners.

The Terriers nearly got on the board on a penalty corner with just over five minutes remaining in the game, but the shot from the stop was too high and Duke quickly responded and went the other way.

Sensing they could take advantage of having more numbers on offense, the Blue Devils quickly cleared to start he counter attack and with the ball on the right sideline Clouser restarted and dribbled into the circle. She passed it to Kelsey Resnick who had her backhand shot denied by Kelly. Burns was in perfect position for the rebound and put it in for her first goal of the year and the 3-0 leads with 4:52 remaining.

Duke goalkeeper Piper Hampsch made two saves in her second shutout of the season and the fifth of her career.

The Blue Devils play North Carolina in a scrimmage, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. The ACC Championship gets underway Nov. 4 at Syracuse.

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