Blue Devils Pick Up 3-1 Road Win at James Madison

Sunday, September 19

Harrisonburg, Va. / JMU Field Hockey Complex

1 P.M.

Duke University

(3-3)

James Madison

(3-4)

Duke

James Madison

Blue Devils Pick Up 3-1 Road Win at James Madison

9/19/2021 3:56:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The 17th-ranked Duke field hockey team scored twice in a five-minute span in the third quarter to post a 3-1 victory at James Madison Sunday afternoon. Three different Blue Devils tallied goals in the win.

Duke improves to 3-4 overall, garnering its second road victory of the season. The Blue Devils have scored three goals in both of their contests away from home. The Dukes fall to 3-4 overall on the year.

Finding the back of the cage for the Blue Devils were seniors Leah Crouse and Olivia Sahaydak and graduate student MaryKate Neff. It is the first goal of the season for Sahaydak and Neff, while Crouse netted her team-best second marker of the year.

James Madison made its one shot in the opening quarter count as Caroline Cahill put a backhand shot past Duke goalie Piper Hampsch off the first penalty corner of the afternoon.

The Blue Devils regrouped and took control of the rest of the opening quarter, but couldn't capitalize on any of their three penalty corners. James Madison goalkeeper Florien Marcussen made three saves in the first 15 minutes.

Duke needed just 41 seconds in the second period to even the score. Freshman forward Grace Norair made her way into the circle off the opening hit and put a shot on cage. Marcussen denied Norair, but the rebound fell in the direction of Crouse who was there to put it in to make it 1-1 after 15:41. Norair was credited with the assist, her first point as a Blue Devil.

The Blue Devils continued to attack, but couldn't find the go-ahead goal and headed into halftime all square, 1-1, with the Dukes.

Outshooting James Madison by seven in the first half, Duke carried that momentum into the third and earned three penalty corners in the first five minutes. The third opportunity from the endline proved to be the charm as Neff hit the stop Eva Nunnink past Marcussen for the 2-1 lead. Lily Posternak was the inserter on the corner.

The Blue Devils gave themselves breathing room 4:32 later as Sahaydak got her stick on the ball in traffic and pushed it into the cage for her 16th career goal.

James Madison picked up its offensive pressure in the final 20 minutes of the game, but strong defense and four saves from Duke goalie Grace Brightbill gave the Blue Devils the victory. Brightbill came off the bench in the second half for Duke.

Overall, Duke outshot James Madison 13-7. Both teams had nine penalty corners over the course of the 60 minutes. Marcussen posted five saves for the Dukes.

The Blue Devils return home to host fifth-ranked Louisville for another ACC contest at home, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. Duke hits the road to William & Mary, Sept. 26.

#GoDuke