Duke Opens NCAA Tournament Action Friday

Friday, November 10

Durham, N.C.

12 p.m.

Duke University

American

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Photo by: Keith Lucas/ACC Photos

Duke Opens NCAA Tournament Action Friday

11/9/2023 7:55:00 AM | Field Hockey

Game Notes Watch Duke vs. American Watch Liberty vs. Syracuse Tournament Central NCAA Scoreboard Live Stats NCAA Bracket

NCAA Field Hockey Action Returns to Durham

Duke hosts the first and second rounds of the 2023 NCAA Tournament Friday (Nov. 10) and Sunday (Nov. 12) at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium. Duke and American meet at 12 p.m., and Liberty and Syracuse play at 2:30 p.m. The second round contest starts at 1 p.m.
Tickets are $5 and free for Duke students and kids under two and can be purchased here. One ticket Friday is for both games.
Parking is available for fans at 705 Broad Street and opens two hours prior to the first game of both days.

The Opening Hit

Duke earned a berth in its 19th NCAA Tournament and garnered the No. 3 overall seed. The Blue Devils host American, winners of the Patriot League Championship, in the opening round. Liberty and Syracuse square off in the second game with the winners of the two games meeting Sunday.
The Blue Devils are 16-4 overall, which includes eight top-15 wins and five ACC victories. Duke garnered at least a share of the ACC regular season title for the second time in program history.
The Eagles are 11-7 overall and went undefeated in Patriot League play for the 11th time in program history en route to their 13th regular season and tournament titles. American is 3-11 all-time in NCAA postseason action and last won a game in 2005, defeating Penn State, 3-2.
The Blue Devils are 2-0 against American in the NCAA Tournament and 9-3 when playing at home.

By the Numbers
19 - Duke appearances in the NCAA Tournament with the last being in 2019
8 - Times in program history Duke has earned a top-four seed (2003, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023)
160 - Wins for Pam Bustin as the Duke head coach, three shy of surpassing Duke Hall of Fame inductee Jacki Silar's record for wins
277 - Career saves for Piper Hampsch, ranking fifth in Duke single-season history
24-18 - Duke's all-time record in the NCAA Tournament
3 - NCAA Tournament seed, the highest since it was No. 3 in 2018
8 - Shutouts for the Blue Devils in 2023, the most since the 2003 team had eight
8.17 - American's penalty corners per game average this season
4.25 - Average number of penalty corners Duke is allowing per game in 2023
4 - Setbacks this season for Duke to nation's current No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 teams
0 - Times Duke has faced Liberty or Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament should the Blue Devils advance to the second round
0.97 - Piper Hampsch's goals against average, leading the ACC and ranking fourth nationally

The Climb

Duke earned the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils, ranked third in the final NFHCA poll, moved 17 spots up from their preseason ranking of 20th. Duke climbed to as high as No. 2, its highest ranking since September of 2019.

Duke in the NCAA Tournament

Duke is making its 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and is a top-four seed for the eighth time. The Blue Devils have advanced to the semifinals six times and to the NCAA Championship four times.

Overall Record: 24-18 (.571)
NCAA Tournament Appearances (19): 1992, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023
Quarterfinals Appearances (14): 1992, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Semifinals Appearances (6): 2003,2004, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2015
Finals Appearances (4): 2003, 2004, 2005, 2013

A Win Friday Would

Be Duke's 25th NCAA Tournament victory and first since 2018
Keep Duke undefeated against American in NCAA postseason action, 3-0
Give Duke 17 wins for sixth time in program history and the first time since 2017.
Give Duke 17 wins for the third time under head coach Pam Bustin.
Push Duke into the quarterfinals for the 15th time in school history

Series History

Duke and American square off for the 10th time in history and the first time since 2016. The Blue Devils are 6-3 against the Eagles and 3-1 in the 21st century.
The two teams met in the NCAA First Round in 2003 and 2016, The 2003 squad advanced to the NCAA title game.

Series Histories with Syracuse and Liberty

A win Friday means Duke would meet Syracuse for the 16th time and for the first time in NCAA postseason play. The Blue Devils are just 3-12 and won the regular season matchup this year, 4-0.
A win Friday also could match Duke up against Liberty for the first time in the NCAA Tournament and the 10th time overall. Duke is 7-2 against the Flames, including this season's overtime win. Five of the seven Blue Devil victories have come in overtime.

What Gives?

Friday's game features a couple of interesting matchups for the Blue Devils. American features a top goaltender in Brynn Underwood. She is sixth in save percentage and 15th in goals against average nationally, while Duke's offense is averaging 2.35 goals per game. The Blue Devils also look to take advantage of the Eagles allowing 6.47 penalty corners per game.
On the defensive end for Duke, the Blue Devils have given up multiple goals in only six of the 20 contests and own eight shutouts to rank seventh nationally. Since allowing six goals in its opening three games (2.00 GA/gm), Duke has given up 14 in the 17 ensuing games (0.77 GA/gm). American has scored multiple goals in 11 of 17 games, while Duke has allowed more than a single goal six times.

Second Half Offensive Success

The Blue Devils' offense has come alive in the second half of games this season. Duke has 26 goals in the final two quarters, compared to 17 in the first two periods.
Duke has taken a lead into halftime eight times and is 7-1 in those contests. The Blue Devils have been tied after the first 30 minutes eight times and are 7-1 in those contests.

Penalty Corner Productivity

Duke has been quite successful on penalty corners this season, scoring 24 goals on 111 penalty corners - a 22 percent success rate. At North Carolina and again versus Wake Forest in the ACC quarterfinal, Charlie van Oirschot redirected a sweep from Macy Szukics. Josephine Palde had the put-back on an Issy Carey sweep against the Demon Deacons.
Last season, Duke scored just eight goals on 111 penalty corners, registering a goal on 7.2 percent of the corners.

Penalty Corner Defense

Duke is allowing 4.25 penalty corners per game and have fared well when stepping on the goal line for the corners. The Blue Devils have given up 10 goals on the 85 penalty corners allowed - an 88 percent success rate for Duke's defense.

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