Duke Falls in Season Opener at Louisville, 3-0

Saturday, September 26

Louisville, KY. / Trager Stadium

1 p.m.

Duke University

(0-1, 0-1ACC)

Louisville

(1-0, 1-0ACC)

DUKE

LOU

Photo by: Jared Anderson

Duke Falls in Season Opener at Louisville, 3-0

9/26/2020 4:30:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Duke field hockey opened its 2020 campaign with a 3-0 setback to Louisville on Saturday afternoon in Trager Stadium.

"One of the things we have been honing in on is the opportunity to grow," said head coach Pam Bustin. "We keep saying this is a bonus season so we need to take a look at some of the things we need to get better at long term, but in the meantime – this was our first, full game and we did hang in there."

Five Blue Devils made their first appearance in a Duke uniform as Darcy Bourne, Eva Nunnink and Piper Hampsch all started. Freshmen Barb Civitella and Alayna Burns saw action off the bench.

Duke's defense held off the Louisville pressure, who tallied three shots, in the opening frame as junior Grace Kim recorded just second career defensive save in the 7th minute to keep the game scoreless.

The Blue Devils earned back-to-back penalty corners in 18th minute with shots from Nunnink and sophomore Kelsey Reznick, but Duke couldn't find the back of the cage. Louisville scored in the final minute of the first half to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Sophomore Josie Varney recorded the first shot in the third quarter, but the Cardinal's keeper was there to make the save. Three minutes later, junior Noor van de Laar sent a ball just wide of the goal for Duke's final shot of the contest. Louisville added two insurance goals in the third quarter to expand its lead to 3-0.

In her collegiate debut, Hampsch made three saves in goal after facing 10 shots. Louisville led Duke in shots, 10-5, and edged the Blue Devils in corners, 3-2.

"Piper did a great job – she's learning," said Bustin. "She got right in there and held her own. I think the defensive team did a great job and there were no direct shots set up, no scoring off corners. It's going to take some time, but today was just the first game."

The Blue Devils look to bounce back tomorrow and close out the weekend with a non-conference matchup versus Louisville. The game is slated for a 1:30 p.m. start on the ACC Network.

#GoDuke