Blue Devils beat the heat
Lady Flames fall to top five ACC opponent for the second time in three days
Some called it a must-win game for the Liberty Lady Flames field hockey team, as they hosted No. 4 Duke Saturday afternoon Oct. 31. Unfortunately, the Lady Flames fell to the Blue Devils 3-2 in overtime.
Onlookers — Lady Flames field hockey fell to No. 4 Duke in overtime. Photo credit: Leah Seavers
Duke’s overtime goal effectively ended the Lady Flames chances of moving on to the NCAA tournament, dropping the Lady Flames to 11-6 on the season.
The first period of play was a back-and-forth contest, with both teams swapping possession every minute.
“I thought given all of the other games this season that we’ve competed against the ACC, we’ve really started out slow, but I thought today the girls started the first half pretty strong,” Lady Flames Head Coach Jodi Murphy said. “I know for sure the second half they came out a little bit stronger, but on the whole I was pleased.”
It was not until the 33rd minute of play that Duke scored the game’s first goal off a set piece. The goal was Blue Devils junior forward Heather Morris’ first of two goals.
The Lady Flames would tie the game at the top of the second period, when senior defender Hannah Jones scored off a penalty corner.
“We didn’t have to make a ton of adjustments in halftime in terms of our press that we were running,” Murphy said. “I just think it was them recognizing when they could take their moments, and really step up and win the ball, and not just let Duke carry out their plan. I think that was a big difference. I think just the way that we were attacking with more intensity, more of a drive, with more intention to get into the attacking third.”
The game continued at a 1-1 tie until well into the second period. With a little more than 10 minutes remaining in the game, Duke racked up an astounding eight penalty corners in just seven minutes, the eighth of which lead to Duke’s second goal of the game. Blue Devils sophomore midfielder Alyssa Chillano scored, giving Duke the 2-1 lead with just minutes remaining.
“[Penalty corners] is what it boiled down to: those set pieces, and the girls being able to execute on corners,” Murphy said. “Equally to our demise as well. You come in and you give up that many penalty corners to this strong of a team, and they’re going to find a way to put them in. I thought that a lot of those calls down the stretch there were really tough breaks for our girls. In that regard, it stings a little bit more.”
Liberty was able to fight back, as sophomore forward Alynn Richardson tied the game 2-2 in the 68th minute, sending the game into overtime.
Unfortunately for the Lady Flames, the Blue Devils’ Morris would score the game-winning goal in just the third minute of overtime.
In Saturday’s game, Duke outshot Liberty, 15-10, but it was the Blue Devils’ 12-6 advantage in penalty corners that ultimately gave the Lady Flames the most trouble.
With an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament seemingly out of the picture, the Lady Flames will play their final game of the season Nov. 7 against Appalachian State at the Liberty Field Hockey Field.
HUSKER is a sports reporter.