Duke Falls to No. 1 North Carolina, 3-0, in NCAA Quarterfinal

Sunday, November 17

Chapel Hill, NC

12 p.m.

Duke University

(13-7)

North Carolina

(20-0)

Duke University

North Carolina

Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics

Duke Falls to No. 1 North Carolina, 3-0, in NCAA Quarterfinal

11/17/2024 3:46:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Top-ranked North Carolina scored a goal in each of the first three quarters to down No. 9 Duke, 3-0, in NCAA Field Hockey Championship quarterfinal action Sunday afternoon at Karen Shelton Stadium.
The Blue Devils conclude the 2024 season with a 13-7 overall record while North Carolina remains undefeated at 20-0. Duke goalkeeper Frederique Wollaert made a season-high eight saves and finished the year with a Blue Devil single-season record 0.67 goals against average.

How it Happened

The opening quarter was an even affair with much of the action being played in the middle of the field as Duke's high press was effective against the Tar Heels. North Carolina's Ryleigh Heck had the Tar Heels' first two shots in the period with Duke goalie Frederique Wollaert turning away both shots.
North Carolina, however, took advantage of a fastbreak opportunity in the final 20 seconds. After breaking out of the defensive third, Avery Donahue sent the ball into the circle to Charly Bruder who had her shot blocked. The rebound fell to Lisa Slinkert on the left post. Duke did well to get a stick on Slinkert's shot, but the loose ball landed for Heck who slid it into the cage with four seconds left in the period.
Duke had the lone penalty corner of the stanza as Macy Szukics' sweep slipped wide right of the goal.
The Tar Heels wasted little time, doubling the lead as Heck once again found the back of the cage. Jasmina Smolenaars knocked the ball into the circle from the left side and Heck collected the bouncing ball, turned and beat Wollaert for the 2-0 lead.
Duke freshman Julia Boehringer had the Blue Devils' best look of the opening half late in the second quarter, stealing a pass and firing wide left of the cage. The Blue Devils held North Carolina to just one shot following the early goal, heading into the locker room down, 2-0.
The Blue Devils' defensive penalty corner unit turned in a pair of outstanding efforts early in the third quarter as Josephine Veen made a defensive save on the first Charley Bruder shot. Wollaert got down on the ensuing corner to turn away Bruder again, keeping Duke within striking distance.
North Carolina struck for a third time in the 44th minute with Kennedy Cliggett redirecting the sweep from Sietske Bruning on a penalty corner.
Duke, battling to the final whistle, kept the Tar Heels off the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, but couldn't find offensive success in the 3-0 loss.
Wollaert's eight saves were a season-high, while Abigail Taylor had to make just one save. Duke held the Tar Heels to just three penalty corners, matching the season low for the top-ranked squad.

Notes

Frederique Wollaert finished her season with a 0.67 goals against average, breaking Lori Stark's Duke single-season record of 0.70 set in 1986.
Duke held North Carolina to just three penalty corners, matching the season-low for the Tar Heels and six below their season average of 9.58.
Sophomore Josephine Veen made her second career defensive save on a penalty corner in the third quarter. It was the second defensive save by a Blue Devil this season.
Duke captured at least 13 wins in a season for the 10th season under head coach Pam Bustin.

Quotes
Pam Bustin
Opening Statement

"A huge congratulations to North Carolina for having an incredible season and carrying it into the final four next week in Michigan. I'll be there watching. A great season so congratulations to all of them."
"For the Duke Blue Devils - man what a fight. They came out and they gave it their all. I think one of the things that kind of bit us this season was our ability to consistently capitalize on our opportunities in the circle, and unfortunately that continued today. We did have a few opportunities and in games like this you have to make them count. But on the other side, 15 shots by UNC and only giving up three corners as we did in the first match against them says a lot about our defensive unit and our ability to shut down at times a very dangerous team in North Carolina."

On the defensive effort and team's battle to the very end

"That's one of the things – last year's team and this year's team – the women we have on this team truly love the game. They truly love one another. They truly love playing for Duke. And when we come here it's always a difficult environment but one we've become familiar with. I think that desire to play our best and to not give up and to continue to believe – that is something our field hockey program takes a lot of pride in. They need to hold their heads up high and they need to walk out of here proud. We played a good game. We played a good game. It starts with our defense. Somebody asked how we can pressure so well for so long and, honestly, it's a four-year process of teaching, of working on it and having the kids gain their confidence in it as an individual and as a team. It showed today. It showed on Friday night so I'm very proud of their defensive efforts today."
On any adjustments made heading into today's game
"We made a couple of on-field adjustments from our last match. Nothing major, just kind of shifting some people around and seeing if a different look and putting our strengths in different positions would help. I thought it did. I thought the first quarter [we were really good] – it really stung that they scored that goal with just three seconds left. I thought we played it well. We had to bring our best game, and I think we probably gave them the best run for their money that they've had this season and hopefully that will help them out next weekend. Again, I'm really proud of the efforts and the consistency and the belief and the energy we brought out to the game."

On this year's team

"These guys have been through a lot. Our grad kids were freshmen during COVID-19, so we went through some hard times together as far as the program and having to kind of get back to who we were and be better than who we were, and this group did it. We have really become a close-knit family. I know people say that, but this group is my family, and I think what's so exciting is the way they've been able to lead through all classes and bring everyone in and lift everybody up. And I think their legacy isn't finished today. I think their legacy will continue through our juniors, our sophomores, our freshmen. It's been a lot of hard work that is going to remain for a while, and I know our coaching staff is always going to honor that and continue to demand what we've demanded from them and what they've demanded from each other."

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