DURHAM — Heading into its top matchup with No. 2 Duke on Friday night at Jack Katz Stadium, the No. 5 North Carolina field hockey team was hoping to celebrate senior night in style.
It could have been an enormous win over the Tar Heels' arch rivals, on Duke's field nonetheless. It could have given lone senior Gab Major a proper send-off in her final home game wearing the Carolina blue uniform.
However, that favorable outcome for the Tar Heels would ultimately fail to come into fruition.
The Blue Devils used a commanding defensive performance from their backline, and two first-half goals from senior Alyssa Chillano, to rattle the Tar Heels from the get-go. They led 2-0 at halftime.
Although UNC clawed its way back into the second half, the late comeback was not enough. Duke escaped with a 3-2 victory and spoiled Major’s big night.
For the majority of the game, Duke’s defense was absolutely smothering. They were physical, hyperactive and vigilant, always prepared for an opposing player as she came in for an attack around the circle. Whenever one UNC player found an opening in the backline, that opening would almost immediately close as soon as it appeared.
“Hats off to Duke,” head coach Karen Shelton said. “I thought they defended superbly. I have to admire it and there's not much more I can say — they played great defensively and made it really tough for our kids. Everything was contested.”
Although the Blue Devils’ defense was impenetrable for various points during the game, the Tar Heels still had several opportunities that they were simply unable to take advantage of.
Following halftime, the Tar Heels scored out of the gate with Eef Andriessen's energizing goal that cut the deficit to 2-1. It was a small victory that was quite short-lived, though. Duke quickly answered just three minutes later when Rose Tynan finished a score off a timely counterattack for the Blue Devils.
