WASHINGTON – Despite leveling the game 1-all in the 36th minute off a goal from
Imogen Hatton, #3 Duke regained the lead three minutes later and the American University field hockey team would fall in the NCAA Tournament First Round. The Blue Devils outlasted the pressure from the Eagles to take the 2-1 victory to survive and advance to the second round.
QUICK NOTABLES
- It was an apt time for Hatton's first goal of the season. The senior from Wysall, England had five prior goals in her collegiate career, four as a sophomore and one as a junior. Hatton's lone goal as a junior also came in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, against #2 Iowa in 2021.
- Duke was awarded seven penalty corners to American's one; the Eagles were 1-for-1 on conversion of corners though when their sole goal of the afternoon came because of it.
- Goalkeeper Bryn Underwood played well anchoring the defense, stopping the Blue Devils' seemingly impossible to block shots six times during the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Blue Devils surged out to the early lead in the fifth minute of the contest. Duke's Issy Carey tipped in the shot across goal that was taken by Hannah Miller and they took a 1-0 lead over the Eagles.
- In the 20th minute, Charllene Boshoff and a Duke player were each issued a green card, so although being down, each team was level on players on the field.
- The first corner for either team was awarded to Duke in the 22nd minute, and they were awarded their second immediately following, the shot on the second going just wide, nothing coming.
- Boshoff, again was issued a green card in the 27th minute, which would give Duke the player advantage, but the Blue Devils didn't capitalize, and the two teams went into the break still holding 1-0.
- It was the first American corner of the game that saw the break for the Eagles and the two teams draw level at 1-all.
- Imogen Hatton was the one who found the back of the net after Boshoff and Megan Hoffman both made attempts on goal. The senior lofted it up over the goalie, Piper Hampsch, to equalize the contest.
- Two and a half minutes later though, the Blue Devils recaptured their lead to go ahead 2-1 on a goal from Barb Civitella, assisted by Issy Carey.
- In the 50th minute, Hatton had a shot that looked promising but went just wide and a yellow card for Sophie Willemse was handed out in the 52nd minute. The Eagles would have to search for an equalizer while on down a player for five minutes.
- That was enough for Duke. The Blue Devils outlasted the Eagles pushing back in th second half to take the game, 2-1, to survive and advance to face the winners of the second game between Syracuse and Liberty.
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