Blue Devils' NCAA Run Cut Short in Quarterfinals

Sunday, November 13

Durham, N.C.

2:00 PM

Duke University

Delaware (Quarterfinals)

Blue Devils' NCAA Run Cut Short in Quarterfinals

11/13/2016 5:52:00 PM | Field Hockey

FH vs. Delaware: Naughton Finishes on Tynan Feed FH vs. Delaware: Steele Makes Key Save FH vs. Delaware: Chillano Scores on Corner Bustin/Chillano Postgame INT: Delaware 3, Duke 2 Photo Gallery Season Statistics Box Score

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – The top-seeded Duke field hockey team saw its run in the 2016 NCAA Championship end in heartbreaking fashion Sunday in a 3-2 overtime loss to Delaware in the quarterfinal round. The Blue Devils were defeated on their home turf at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium for the first time on the season to finish the year at 16-4.

Leading 2-0 into the 62nd minute, Duke was unable to hold off a Delaware attack that knotted up the contest before the end of regulation. The Blue Hens' Greta Nauck tapped home the game winner 2:17 into overtime to send her squad to the NCAA semifinals.

“Even through some turnovers or through some unfortunate situations on the field, we found a way to get the ball back or to keep the possession,” said head coach Pam Bustin. “I thought we did a good job with that. At the end, Delaware did put the pressure on. They bumped somebody up and they were putting more pressure on us. We sustained it very well but got some unfortunate breaks that started building up and putting the pressure on our defense.”

The Blue Devils controlled possession for much of the opening half, outshooting Delaware 11-2 in the first 35 minutes. Despite Duke generating a number of promising looks at the cage, the match remained scoreless at the break.

The Blue Hens came out attacking to start the second half, but a defensive save by Blue Devil back Alyssa Chillano kept the score at 0-0. Delaware also had a defensive save on the other end before Chillano broke through to put Duke on the board at the 49:25 mark. Her team-leading 13th goal of the season came on a penalty corner with junior Ainsley Gill and freshman Margaux Paolino assisting.

Delaware goalkeeper Emmeline Oltmans reached double digits in the saves column while Sammi Steele also held strong on back-to-back scoring opportunities for the Blue Hens. A strong defensive presence set up a Duke fast break and graduate student Aisling Naughton finished on a touch from sophomore Rose Tynan to widen the margin to 2-0. Naughton's strike in the 59th minute gave her a goal in six consecutive contests.

Nauck trimmed the deficit to one just over three minutes later on a corner opportunity. The Blue Hens' front line continued to pressure Duke's back field, and earned the tying score in the 68th minute on a rebound put back into the cage.

The Blue Devil defense weathered a final Delaware corner before the end of regulation.

Nauck took off on a run down the field two minutes into overtime, punctuating the Blue Hens' rally with her second goal of the day.

“Credit to Delaware,” Bustin said. “They held us off. We had 23 shots and their goalkeeper was aggressive and was very successful with that. They have some very, very talented players on their team and in critical moments, those talented players got the ball.”

Duke rounded out the contest with a 23-13 advantage in shots and had eight penalty corners to seven by Delaware.

In goal, Steele accounted for six saves and Oltmans for 11 on the opposite end.

The Blue Devils concluded the season with a 9-1 home record, including an 8-0 mark in the regular season. The program made its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals after capturing the ACC regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Duke also reached No. 1 in the national poll for the first time.

The senior class of Robin Blazing, Hunter Bracale, Heather Morris, Savannah Story and Kelsey Wagner guided the program to a four-year record of 60-25 with two NCAA semifinals appearances – including a trip to the national championship match in 2013.

“Just so proud of the seniors and their journey here and the leadership they provided to this team,” Bustin said. “What they provided to the class – not only [the junior] class when they were freshmen but the classes to follow – just what to be expected to be a part of this Duke field hockey team and the attitude and the energy.”

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