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Field Hockey Drops Season Opener to No. 4 Duke, 1-0
September 05, 2014 | Field Hockey
DURHAM, N.C. – Despite a 12-save effort from junior goalie Anya Gersoff, the seventh-ranked Princeton University field hockey team dropped a hard-fought decision to No. 4 Duke University in its 2014 season opener, 1-0.
Controlling much of the possession, the Blue Devils' Aileen Johnson redirected the game winner into the Tiger cage at the 57:34 mark of the second half. Holding a 14-4 advantage in penalty corners, Duke finished with a 20-4 shot advantage.
Snapping the Tigers' six-game opening day win streak, the Blue Devils avenged a 3-1 loss to Princeton last season while improving to 3-0 on the year. Dating back to 2003, the Orange and Black are now 7-5 in season openers under 12th-year head coach Kristen Holmes-Winn.
With neither team able to gain any traction early, Duke won the game's first penalty corner 10 minutes after the opening whistle. Ending up with a Jessica Buttinger insert at the top of the circle, sophomore Hunter Bracale ripped the contest's first shot toward the left post, which prompted a Gersoff save.
Tracking down the rebound, Buttinger again tested Gersoff, but Princeton's netminder punched away the try to keep the Tigers level. Earning two more penalty corners late in the first half, the Blue Devils' Heather Morris recorded a shot with less than three minutes remaining, but the attempt veered wide as the teams headed into the locker room scoreless.
Hoping to jumpstart its offense, Princeton won its first penalty corner just over a minute after the restart. Getting off the Tigers' first shot, Sydney Kirby sent a try over the bar. Answering with a run down the right side, Duke found freshman Ashley Kristen with a centering pass just above the end line. Alone in front, the freshman striker nearly put the home team ahead, but Gersoff made a sprawling save, stacking her pads to keep Duke off the board.
Continuing to push forward, the Blue Devils registered six more shots over the next 10-plus minutes, but Gersoff continued to stand tall, spurning a couple of quality chances by Bracale and senior Martine Chichizola. After forcing a couple more diving stops, Duke finally solved Gersoff in the 58th minute.
Handling it on the right side of the circle, freshman Ainsley Gill backhanded a ball toward the cage. Getting a stick on the redirection, Johnson guided a low tracer into the back left corner of the net to put the Blue Devils on top. Off to a fast start, Gill already has five points through her first three collegiate contests.
With time winding down, Princeton pushed into the attacking third. Gaining a penalty corner with 66:18 on the clock, the Tigers got the ball to Teresa Benvenuti, who just pushed a shot wide. Earning another corner moments later, Kirby put Princeton's lone try of the game on target, but Duke goalie Lauren Blazing kicked away the would-be equalizer to preserve the lead. With just over two minutes remaining, the Orange and Black earned one final corner, but the ensuing shot trickled wide, sealing the Tigers' fate.
Princeton returns to action Sunday, Sept. 7 and will look to break into the win column against No. 6 Virginia. Coming off a pair of losses to No. 8 Penn State (3-0) and No. 20 Iowa (4-3) the Cavaliers hold a slim 4-3 edge over the Tigers in the all-time series.