Duke Falls to UNC in Top-Two Matchup, 2-0

Friday, October 4

Chapel Hill, N.C.

4:30 PM

Duke University

(8-2 (0-2ACC))

North Carolina

(10-0 (3-0ACC0)

Duke

North Carolina

Lily Posternak

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke Falls to UNC in Top-Two Matchup, 2-0

10/4/2019 6:47:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score Season Statistics Postgame Interview: Pam Bustin Photo Gallery

By: Duke Sports Information

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Duke field hockey team suffered a 2-0 setback to North Carolina in a matchup of the nation's top two teams Friday at the Tar Heels' Karen Shelton Stadium.

The second-ranked Blue Devils dipped to 8-2 overall and 0-2 in ACC action with the loss.

"I'm proud of the fact that we were able to hold their powerful offense to two goals," said head coach Pam Bustin. "I thought our corner defense did great. Although we gave up some more corners in corners, they didn't get goals off of them. That's a positive. For us, we're back to having to really earn and capitalize on opportunities. We're still in that phase of developing those on a consistent basis and not rushing it."

Redshirt senior goalkeeper Sammi Steele tallied a season-best five saves but Duke was outshot 14-6 by the Tar Heels (10-0, 3-0 ACC).

North Carolina logged four shots and Duke one in the first quarter with Steele and the Tar Heels' Amanda Hendry making one save each.

Both teams generated attack chances in the second frame before North Carolina pushed ahead in the 25th minute on a goal by Melissa Creatore.

"I was expecting a good fight," stated Bustin. "I thought we would have some opportunities we would be able to capitalize on and play our game, but also understanding and respecting how dangerous Carolina can be, especially on the counter, on the transition game. And they did. The first goal was definitely on transition."

Trailing 1-0 heading into the third quarter, the Blue Devils earned their first penalty corner at the 12:48 mark but saw the ensuing shot stopped by the North Carolina defense. Duke countered with stifling defense on the other end, keeping the deficit at one entering the final 15 minutes.

Steele made a kick save on an offering by Tar Heels early in the fourth quarter before North Carolina extended its lead to 2-0 on a penalty corner opportunity. The Tar Heels drew additional corner chances late in the contest but the Blue Devils kept North Carolina at bay.

The Tar Heels led 8-3 in penalty corners for the evening, with seven of them coming in the fourth quarter. Freshman Josie Varney led the Blue Devils in shots with two, both of which were on goal.

"It's amazing for these kids to have the opportunity to play this level of a game," said Bustin. "We're in the middle of it right now, so we have to be diligent and we have to be very alert to how we're going to take this to be better on Sunday and to grow from it because it was a top-caliber game that we played tonight against a great team."

Duke will be back at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium Sunday to face No. 12 Princeton at 1 p.m. on ACCNX. The Blue Devils will host a Block Party at the stadium beginning at 11:30 a.m.

#GoDuke