Cards Come Up Short at No. 2 Duke

Friday, October 13

Durham, NC

4:00 PM

University of Louisville

(12-2, 2-2)

Duke

(13-1, 5-0)

Louisville

Duke University

October 13, 2023 | Field Hockey

Box Score

Rylie Wollerton's goal gives Louisville a 1-0 lead, but a pair of late goals give the Blue Devils a 2-1 win

By: Lori Harmon

DURHAM, N.C. – The fifth-ranked University of Louisville field hockey team battled, but lost 2-1 to No. 2 Duke in a top-five Atlantic Coast Conference matchup Friday evening at Duke's William's Field at Jack Katz Stadium.

The loss brings Louisville's record to 12-2 (2-2 ACC) and snaps the Cardinals' six-game win streak. In the game, UofL outshot Duke 7-6 with a 5-3 advantage in shots on goal, while the Blue Devils held a 2-1 edge in penalty corners. Merlijn van der Vegt posted one save while Piper Hampsch had four stops for Duke.

"That was a great hockey game with two quality opponents battling," said UofL head coach Justine Sowry. "It could've gone either way, and, unfortunately Duke capitalized in key moments. We now need to regroup in a hurry as we head home and play another quality opponent on Sunday. It is critical, we focus and pay attention to our recovery and preparation."

The teams played through a scoreless first half before the Cards broke through with 6:58 left to play in the third quarter. Freshman Chloe Plumb set up the goal when she made her way into the circle and found sophomore Chloe Cuzzupe who sent a feed to Rylie Wollerton. The sophomore forward quickly sent a shot past Hampsch for her second goal of the season to give Louisville a 1-0 lead.

Duke (13-1, 5-0 ACC) countered three minutes later with a goal from Alaina McVeigh to even the score at 1-1 near the end of the third quarter.

With the contest still knotted a 1-1 entering the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils pulled ahead just four minutes into the frame when Logan Clouser connected with an assist from Hannah Miller to give Duke a 2-1 lead.

Sowry lifted van der Vegt in favor of an extra field player with 3:51 left to play and the Cardinals continued build their attack, but could not capitalize in only their second loss of the season.

The Cardinals will return home to face No. 6 Iowa Sunday at Trager Stadium at 12 p.m.