Tar Heels Fall To No. 2 Duke, 3-2

Friday, October 20

Durham, N.C.

6:00 PM

North Carolina

(12-4 (3-3))

Duke

(13-2 (4-2))

Duke

North Carolina

Eva van't Hoog fights for a ball on Friday evening at Duke.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

October 20, 2017 | Field Hockey

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By: UNC Athletic Communications

DURHAM, N.C. – No. 2 Duke scored twice in the first half and went on to a 3-2 field hockey win over No. 5 North Carolina Friday evening in an Atlantic Coast Conference field hockey battle at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium.

The Blue Devils improved to 13-2 overall and 4-2 in conference play. UNC fell to 12-4 (3-3 ACC) with the loss.

"Hats off to Duke," UNC coach Karen Shelton said. "I thought they defended superbly. I have to admire it and there's not much more I can say – they played great defensively and made it really tough for our kids. Everything was contested."

Both of Duke's first half goals came on penalty corners by senior Alyssa Chillano, the first in the 15th minute and the second in the 32nd.

It marked just the second time all season UNC had trailed at halftime, and the only time the Tar Heels have been down by more than a goal at the break.

Carolina narrowed the gap early in the second half, scoring just over two minutes in, when sophomore Marissa Creatore sent a ball from the right side to Eef Andriessen in the middle of the circle. Duke keeper Sammi Steele came out to play it and Andriessen, a sophomore, lifted the ball over her and into the cage to make the score 2-1 Duke.

Duke answered quickly, however, scoring on a break just over three minutes later. Ashley Kristen passed from the right side to Rose Tynan, who shot from the front of the cage to again give the Blue Devils a two-goal advantage.

With about eight minutes remaining, Shelton called a timeout and pulled goalkeeper Amanda Hendry in favor of an additional attacker. Three minutes later, the Tar Heels used that increased pressure to generate a goal. After Steele saved a shot by Malin Evert, sophomore Feline Guenther grabbed the rebound and scored to again draw the Tar Heels within one.

But the Tar Heels were unable to earn another goal, despite finishing with 18 shots (11 in the second half) to Duke's six. UNC drew 10 corners to Duke's three.

"They executed on their penalty corners early in the game, and we had plenty of opportunities and couldn't find the back of the net," Shelton said. "I'm proud of our group – I think we put a lot of pressure on Duke – but it's disappointing not to get more goals than we did."

The game was technically a home game for UNC, which is playing and practicing at Duke this season while its new on-campus facility is under construction. On a beautiful fall evening, the crowd of more than 700 was a mix of blues, incorporating a rowdy mix of families and fans from both teams, as well as the UNC Field Hockey Band. "It was an amazing crowd, and a great atmosphere for intercollegiate hockey, under the lights at our shared home field," Shelton said.

The Tar Heels have just one regular-season game remaining, at Liberty on Oct. 29. After that they'll look ahead to the ACC Tournament Nov. 2, 3 and 5 in Louisville, Ky.

Since Friday's contest was UNC's last "home" game of the season, it was Senior Night, and the Tar Heels honored their lone senior, Gab Major, before pregame introductions. A forward from Royersford, Pa., who is majoring in exercise and sport science, Major serves as a co-captain and has started every game this fall. "She's been a great leader in this unusual year," Shelton said. "She continues to lead in the locker room and on the field, and we're grateful for her leadership."

No. 2 Duke 3, No. 5 UNC 2
Scoring: Duke – Alyssa Chillano (Caroline Andretta, Margaux Paolino), 14:08; Duke – Chillano (Paolino, Ashley Kristen), 31:45; UNC – Eef Andriessen (Marissa Creatore), 37:08; Duke – Rose Tynan (Kristen), 40:40; UNC – Feline Guenther, 65:14
Shots: UNC 18 (7/11), Duke 6 (3/3)
Penalty corners: UNC 10 (3/7), Duke 3 (0/3)
Goalkeeper saves: UNC 2 (Amanda Hendry, 62:02, 3 goals allowed, 2 saves; Team, 7:58); Duke 6 (Sammi Steele, 70:00, 2 goals allowed, 6 saves)
Records: UNC 12-4 (3-3 ACC), Duke 13-2 (4-2 ACC)

UNC starters: Amanda Hendry, Eef Andriessen, Cassie Sumfest, Ashley Hoffman, Feline Guenther, Malin Evert, Morgan Goetz, Eva Smolenaars, Eva van't Hoog, Gab Major, Marissa Creatore
UNC subs: Meredith Sholder, Bryn Boylan, Catherine Hayden, Kathryn Holland, Courtnie Williamson, Megan DuVernois