Defense Powers Duke to ACC Championship Game

Wednesday, November 1

Charlottesville, Va.

3:30 p.m.

Duke University

(16-3)

Louisville

(14-6)

Louisville

Duke

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Defense Powers Duke to ACC Championship Game

11/1/2023 6:52:00 PM | Field Hockey

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—Duke senior goalkeeper Piper Hampsch made six saves and Hannah Miller scored a goal to lift the third-ranked Blue Devils to a thrilling 1-0 victory over No. 10 Louisville in the ACC Field Hockey Championship semifinal Wednesday afternoon.

Duke improves to 16-3 overall and advance to the ACC Tournament final for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2011. Louisville falls to 14-6 on the year. The Blue Devils will face top-seed North Carolina in the title game, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., live on ACC Network.

How it Happened

Duke goalkeeper Piper Hampsch came up with three stellar saves in the early minutes as Louisville put pressure on the Blue Devils defense with a quartet of penalty corners. Junior Kira Curland, lining up as the flyer on the penalty corner defensive unit, blocked another sweep to keep the Cardinals at bay.
The Blue Devils weathered the storm from the Cardinals as Hampsch finished the opening quarter with four saves. Duke started to possess the ball as the quarter started to wind down.
Duke picked up right where it left off in the second quarter, taking a 1-0 lead 53 seconds into the period. Sophomore Alaina McVeigh sent in a cross from the left touchline to Miller streaking into the circle for the redirect. The goal was her seventh of the season.
Holding the 1-0 advantage, Duke continued to control the action with excellent ball movement through much of the second stanza. The Blue Devil defense buckled down in the final minutes of the half as Louisville started to press forward looking for the equalizer.
Hampsch and the Duke backline continued its staunch defense in the third period. Louisville fired three shots and had a trio of penalty corners but couldn't solve the puzzle of the Blue Devil defense.
In search of a crucial second goal, the Blue Devils generated a couple of looks midway through the fourth period but couldn't find the back of the cage. Kira Curland had a shot off the penalty corner saved by Louisville keeper Merlijn van der Vegt and Miller's shot skipped wide of the goal.
With Louisville playing with an extra attacker after pulling its goalkeeper, Duke calmly killed off the game with great skill and intelligent hockey.
Louisville outshot the Blue Devils, 10-6, for the game and won the penalty corner battle, 7-3. In goal, van der Vegt had six saves.

Notes

Duke captures its 16th win, marking the ninth time in program history the Blue Devils have at least 16 wins in a season.
This is Duke's fourth appearance in the ACC title game and first since 2011.
Duke is 0-3 overall in ACC Championship games and 0-2 in finals against UNC. The Blue Devils are 1-14 all-time against UNC in the ACC Tournament.
With the goal, Hannah Miller moves to 13th in career points (92) and 16th in career goals (32)
This is Duke's eighth shutout this season, tying the 2003, 1990, 1988 squads. The record is 11 held by 1982 team.
Piper Hampsch made six saves to move to fifth on the all-time career saves list with 275.
Hampsch sports a 0.92 goals against average this season, tying for third in program single-season history with Ritika Bowry in 1990.
Duke held Louisville without a goal for just the fourth time this season. The 1-0 win was the third for the Blue Devils this season.

Up Next

Duke takes on No. 2 North Carolina for the ACC title, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised live on ACC Network.

Quotes
Hannah Miller on her goal and the team's defense
"That was quite awesome. I'm so pumped. Consistency is what I think of when I think of our Duke defense. Every game everyone steps up. They do their role so well and they lead with experience back there. It's just so awesome and the whole team gets fired up with them behind us. It's a total team effort back there and they have so much experience and we know they're going to do everything we can to get us the win. It's just awesome."

Miller on coming back for her fifth season
"We came back this season with some unfinished business and a little chip on our shoulder and it's been a total team effort and we're ready to do something special. Everyone on this team is bought and everyone is doing their role so well so that's what's going to push us through. We're so pumped and so grateful for this experience to play on Friday night and I know we're going to do something special."

Miller on the program history
"There have been so many great players to come through this program. Every team has left such a great legacy for Duke field hockey, and this is our chance to make history. We are all bought into that and we're super excited to make the Duke alums proud."

#GoDuke