No. 5 Duke Bests UMass Lowell, 3-1

Box Score DURHAM – The fifth-ranked Duke field hockey completed the weekend sweep, beating UMass Lowell, 3-1, Sunday afternoon at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium.

Duke scored twice in the first half with goals from Alaina McVeigh and Kira Curland. Josephine Palde tacked on a third for the Blue Devils in the fourth period.

How it Happened

• The Blue Devils dominated possession in the first quarter, finding their rhythm halfway through the period. Duke grabbed the 1-0 lead on its first penalty corner of the afternoon. It was McVeigh again whose sweep from the top of the circle found the back of the cage. Paige Bitting and Macy Szukics provided the assists.
• UMass Lowell started to find its footing in the second quarter, earning a penalty corner and firing three shots. Curland doubled Duke’s lead with just over four minutes left in the first half, taking a pass from McVeigh from the right side of the circle and beating a couple of River Hawk defenders and slipping it inside the post.
• Graduate student Frederique Wollaert made her first save of the season in the second period as Duke took a 2-0 lead into the halftime break.
• Duke came out firing in the third quarter, putting three shots on frame in the opening five minutes of action. UMass Lowell’s Marie Oliemans was up to the task, keeping the River Hawks within a pair of goals after 45 minutes of action.
• The Blue Devils iced the victory with a goal from Palde in the 48th minute. The senior’s shot from the right side of the circle skipped past Oliemans for Palde’s first goal of the season and a 3-0 lead.
• UMass Lowell capitalized on a late penalty corner with Mirthe Gans being credited with the score.
• Wollaert and freshman Kaiya Chepow split duties in goal once again. Both registered one save. Duke allowed just one shot in the second half and sacrificed just two corners over the 60 minutes.
• UMass Lowell goalies Christina Calandra and Oliemans combined for seven saves in the setback.

Notes

• Paige Bitting posted her first career point with an assist on the game’s opening goal.
• Alaina McVeigh now has 43 career points (20g, 3a). She is seven away from becoming the 43rd Blue Devil to 50 career points.
• Duke’s eight goals in the first two games of the season are tied for the most since the Blue Devils had eight in 2019.

 
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