Palde Score Leads Duke Past Richmond

Sunday, August 29

Durham, N.C.

1 p.m.

Duke University

(1-1)

Richmond

(0-2)

Univ. of Richmond

Duke

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Palde Score Leads Duke Past Richmond

8/29/2021 4:25:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

DURHAM – Duke freshman Josephine Palde scored in the 48th minute to help lift the 12th-ranked Blue Devils to a 1-0 victory over Richmond in field hockey action Sunday afternoon on Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium.

The Blue Devils move to 1-1 after their opening weekend and return to action next weekend with the Big 10/ACC Cup.

"They played hard," said head coach Pam Bustin. "I am so proud of how hard we played and the persistence that we showed. We can still manage our frustration better at times, but that's a work in progress and I'm really pleased with the fact they kept pushing and pushing and didn't give up. They kept on it and got that goal. It was awesome."

Sophomore goalkeeper Piper Hampsch recorded four saves, including a crucial one late in the fourth quarter to post her first shutout of the season. Duke outshot Richmond (0-2) 13-7 for the game and had four penalty corners to the Spiders' two.

Also playing a crucial role was the return of senior Leah Crouse, fresh off of the plane from Santiago, Chile after helping the U22 U.S. National Team to the bronze medal at the 2021 Junior Pan American Championships. Crouse's experience brought increased composure and confidence to the Blue Devils as well as another scoring threat.

"Not only her experience here at Duke, but also playing at another level brings an air of confidence and understanding," Bustin said about Crouse. "Coaches on the sideline can't have that type of influence, but players who have that experience bring it to the field."

The two teams spent the opening quarter feeling each other out as both teams spent much of the play in the middle of the field. Action picked up in the second period as Duke started to find its way inside the circle.

Duke forward Hannah Miller gave Richmond goalkeeper Erika Latta her first test of the day in the 21st minute. Miller tried to put in the rebound off of the Latta save, but it slipped just wide right of the cage. The Blue Devils fired three more shots, two of which came on cage, in the quarter, but couldn't score and headed into halftime tied, 0-0.

Both teams took three shots each in the third stanza, but once again the defenses and goalies were up to the task, keeping the game scoreless after 45 minutes of action.

A determined Blue Devil squad came out in the fourth quarter and attacked from the opening whistle. Just over two minutes in, Duke got a foul call on the left sideline. Miller, once again in the mix, collected the ball and found MaryKate Neff just inside the circle. The graduate student picked up her head and saw Palde open on the left post. The rookie settled the pass and slipped it into the far right corner past the outstretched leg of Latta for the 1-0 advantage.

Duke continued to search for that crucial second goal, firing four more shots in the period. On the other side of the ball, Richmond refused to give up and created a couple of dangerous opportunities down the stretch. Hampsch denied the Spiders with eight minutes to keep the shutout and secure the victory for the Blue Devils.

Duke stays at home for the next weekend, hosting Northwestern and Maryland in the Big 10/ACC Cup. Boston College rounds out the teams for the weekend. Check GoDuke.com for full match details.

#GoDuke