DURHAM, N.C. βDuke field hockey's Paige Bitting, Hannah Millerand Josephine Paldeare coming back to Durham with a summer title to their names. The trio recently helped their team β Salt Lake City β to the 2022 Senior Nexus Championship presented by Osaka Hockey title with a 3-2 comeback victory.
The group of Bitting, Miller and Palde were just three of nine current Blue Devils who suited up for teams in the Nexus Championship held at the Virginia Beach Regional Training Center last week. Shelby Bumgarner was on the runner-up Paris squad, while Grace Norairtook third as a member of team Los Angeles. There were eight teams total.
In the gold medal game, Salt Lake City fell behind 2-0 to Paris before mounting a furious comeback in the waning minutes. The first tally came in the 53rd minute off a penalty corner. Two minutes later Salt Lake City evened the score from another penalty corner and then Miller pushed Salt Lake City in front 3-2, deflecting a ball in off the post.
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Alayna Burns, Hannah Miller, Shelby Bumgarner, Josephine Palde, Bar
Salt Lake City finished the tournament with a 2-0-2 overall record, the lone team in the competition to not suffer a loss. Paris, with Bumgarner helping to anchor the defense went 3-1 and allowed six goals across the four outings.
Norair and Los Angeles went 2-1-1, handing London a 5-3 loss in the bronze medal contest. Alayna Burnsand Barb Civitellawere on Atlanta (1-3), while Josie Varneyhelped lead Athens (1-3). Freshman Macy Szukicsroundied out the Duke contingent with Tokyo (1-3). Associate head coach Ralph Boersmawas the head coach for the fourth-place London team.
The Blue Devils return to campus in early August, beginning practice August 10. Duke opens the 2022 season on the road at Rutgers, Aug. 26 at 1 p.m.
