Duke Downs Eagles, 2-1, to Capture First Win of Season

Sunday, August 31

Washington, D.C.

1 p.m.

Duke University

(2-1)

American

(1-2)

Duke

American

Duke Downs Eagles, 2-1, to Capture First Win of Season

8/31/2025 3:04:00 PM | Field Hockey

Box Score Box Score

WASHINGTON D.C. – Fifth-ranked Duke scored twice in the second quarter and held off a second-half charge from American to down the Eagles, 2-1, in the nation's capital Sunday. The win is the first for the Blue Devils this season.

Sophomore Julia Boehringer and senior Alaina McVeigh scored for the Blue Devils 6:30 apart in the second quarter to lift Duke to victory.

How it Happened

Duke fired three shots in the opening half and scored on two of them, taking a 2-0 lead into the locker room. The Blue Devils and Eagles spent much of the first quarter in the middle part of the field with neither team able to generate quality action inside the penalty circles.
Duke sophomore Madison Beach earned the Blue Devils their first penalty corner of the afternoon, lifting a pass into the body of an American defender. Inserter Maggie Kondrath had her redirect knocked down by American goalie and set up a second corner for the Blue Devils.
Kondrath sent the insert to Beach where Julia Boehringer used some nifty stick work to beat American's flyer and rifled a backhanded shot into the goal for the 1-0 lead.
Six minutes later it was senior forward Alaina McVeigh with her first goal of the year as Issy Carey's pass across the face of the goal was deflected to McVeigh for a simple finish into the cage and a 2-0 advantage.
The Blue Devils dominated time of possession in the opening half and held American to one shot and one penalty corner.
The Eagles came out with energy in the third, controlling the action. American cut the lead in half in the 38th minute when Ninthe Botman's effort from just outside the circle deflected off a Duke stick.
After Duke was held to just one shot in the third quarter, McVeigh had an outstanding chance blocked by an Eagle defender. A minute later, Beach rocketed a shot square off the crossbar as American escaped the opening five minutes of pressure from the Blue Devils.
American turned the tables in the final five minutes, attacking with fury in the closing moments. However, Duke stood tall to come away with its first win of the season.
Both teams fired seven shots in the game with Pauline Gineste making two saves for American. Kaiya Chepow did not have a save, facing just one shot on frame. American had the 6-4 edge in corners.

Notes

Duke had two different goal scorers against American with Alaina McVeigh and Julia Boehringer getting their first goals of the season. In the first two games of the season, the Blue Devils have five different goal scorers and six players with at least one point.
All five of Duke's goals this season have come in the first half. Four of the five goals allowed by the Blue Devils have come in the second half.
The Blue Devils have three goals on 11 penalty corners this season – two in the season opener and a third in the second.

Up Next

Duke hosts the ACC/B1G Challenge next weekend, hosting No. 1 Northwestern and No. 4 Maryland, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m., and Sept. 7 at 3 p.m., respectively. Boston College is the fourth team in the event.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils field hockey, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeFH".

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