Upcoming Event: Field Hockey at Boston College on October 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
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6:30 p.m.
Field Hockey
at Boston College
Thursday, November 2
Chapel Hill, N.C.
4 p.m.
Duke University
0
vs
2
North Carolina
Duke Falls To North Carolina, 2-0, In ACC Tournament
11/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The fourth-ranked Duke field hockey team fell to eighth-ranked North Carolina, 2-0, on Thursday in the opening round of the ACC Tournament at Francis E. Henry Stadium.
The first half opened up with North Carolina getting off two quick shots, but Duke's defense would tighten up, as neither team would get off a shot attempt until 18 minutes remained in the half. Two minutes later, North Carolina's Alli Tanner broke toward the net and as junior keeper Caitlin Williams left the cage, senior Cara-Lynn Lopresti picked up a defensive save to deny a Tar Heel goal.
Duke characteristically was stellar on defense throughout the first half, as Williams recorded one save on six Tar Heel shots while the all others were forced wide or blocked by her Blue Devil teammates. Seniors Amy Stopford and Hilary Linton along with sophomore Laura Suchoski had key defensive plays in the midfield and in the circle, as North Carolina received four penalty corners in the period but could not convert.
Stopford managed Duke's only shot of the half, as the Blue Devils were unable to convert a penalty corner of their own in the final five minutes.
After a scoreless first half, both teams came out ready to play in the second. North Carolina broke away in the initial minutes but shot wide, and Duke came back with three consecutive penalty corners, two of which were forced by the aggressive in-the-circle play of Suchoski.
The Tar Heels retaliated with two consecutive penalty corners of their own, but Williams continued her stellar in-goal play as the score remained knotted at zero. Both teams had near-goals in the final period, including a Lauren Miller shot off of a penalty corner that appeared to be tipped into the goal, but was dished out by Tar Heel goalie Brianne O'Donnell.
After a similar play occurred on the opposite side of the field for North Carolina, Tanner found the net with five minutes remaining in the contest to put the Tar Heels up, 1-0.
North Carolina's next shot hit a Blue Devil leg in front of the goal to force a foul, and Brooke Miller was awarded a penalty stroke, which she converted into a goal to put North Carolina on top for good, 2-0, in the closing minutes.
Williams recorded three saves on the day, while Tar Heel keeper Brianne O'Donnell picked up four. The Tar Heels got off 13 shot attempts, while Duke got off seven. North Carolina (13-7) narrowly out-cornered the Blue Devils, 7-6.
With UNC's victory over Duke, the point originally earned by the Blue Devils during the regular season is now split in the Carlyle Cup series as a half point for each school. Duke leads the 2006-07 Carlyle Cup race, 4-1.5.
Next up for Duke (14-5) will be the NCAA Tournament, with first and second round action set to be played on Nov. 11 and 12 at campus sites to be determined. The NCAA field hockey selection show will be aired on CSTV on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
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